Chandigarh: Whereas the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Social gathering (AAP) have come collectively within the INDIA bloc, the state of affairs in Punjab is one other story altogether, with the previous alleging a “vicious witch-hunt” towards its leaders by the state authorities run by the latter.
Within the 16 months that AAP has been in energy within the state, greater than a dozen Congress leaders, together with a former chief minister and deputy chief minister, are dealing with severe probes ordered by the federal government. As many as 4 former Congress cupboard ministers have been arrested by the Vigilance Bureau (VB) on costs of alleged corruption.
Congress chief Sukhpal Khaira, who says he’s the newest sufferer, tweeted Friday about AAP “sparing no alternative to marginalise @INCPunjab by slapping maliciously false prison circumstances”.
Later, in a press assertion, Khaira added that three FIRs had been registered towards him prior to now 16 months, the newest being in Might this yr. He mentioned the FIR was registered in Bholath in Kapurthala on the idea of a 51-year-old income file of his household when he was solely seven. Khaira mentioned that the FIR was registered as a fallout of his having vociferously spoken up on the allegations of sexual misconduct towards cupboard minister Lal Chand Kataruchakk. He alleged that the FIR was geared toward silencing him.
Disgrace on @ArvindKejriwal & @BhagwantMann for his or her double requirements as on one hand they’re working from pillar to submit for opposition unity and INDIA alliance whereas however they’re sparing no alternative to marginalize @INCPunjab by slapping maliciously false prison… pic.twitter.com/ZIUXqWIxIz
— Sukhpal Singh Khaira (@SukhpalKhaira) July 28, 2023
A number of different Congress leaders have objected to their social gathering excessive command stitching collectively an alliance with AAP on the Centre. Earlier this week, Chief of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa met senior Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and nationwide social gathering head Mallikarjun Kharge to inform them that the alliance would have a “detrimental impact” on the state unit.
ThePrint reached AAP’s chief spokesperson in Punjab, Malvinder Singh Kang by way of the cellphone however he didn’t take the decision. This report will probably be up to date if and when he responds.
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Lengthy listing of circumstances
On 9 July, former deputy chief minister O.P. Soni was arrested by the VB on costs of amassing belongings disproportionate to his identified sources of earnings. In keeping with the VB assertion, a probe ordered in October 2022 revealed that between 1 April 2016 and 31 March 2022, the earnings of Soni and his household was Rs 4.5 crore whereas the expenditure was Rs 12.4 crore — 176 p.c greater than their earnings.
Reacting to Soni’s arrest, Bajwa had mentioned that AAP was indulging in vendetta politics and misusing authorities equipment, together with the VB, to focus on and malign the picture of Congress leaders.
Former CM Charanjit Singh Channi, too, has been questioned by the VB on comparable costs of amassing disproportionate belongings. After a glance out round was issued towards him in March, Channi was questioned twice by the VB to elucidate the wealth he had gathered prior to now few years. Channi termed the motion towards him politically motivated and challenged Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to do “no matter he wished” towards him, including that he was not afraid of going to jail.
Three different former ministers — Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot and Sunder Sham Arora have been arrested by the VB. Ashu, a former meals and civil provides minister, was arrested in August final yr for alleged irregularities within the award of transport contracts for carrying foodgrains. Ashu denied the allegations and was granted bail by the excessive court docket in March this yr.
Former welfare minister Dharamsot was arrested in February this yr on costs of amassing wealth disproportionate to his earnings. In keeping with the VB, from 01-03-2016 to 31-03-2022, Dharamsot and his household’s earnings was Rs 2.37 crore whereas the expenditure was Rs 8.76 crore — 269 p.c greater than the earnings. The excessive court docket granted Dharamsot common bail in Might this yr.
Arora, a former industries and commerce minister who was already in jail in an alleged bribery case, was arrested in January this yr for his alleged involvement within the allotment of business plots by the Punjab State Industries Export Company. He bought bail in April from the Punjab and Haryana Excessive Courtroom.
Former minister Sangat Singh Gilzian is dealing with corruption costs referring to his tenure as forest minister. In July final yr, the VB arrested his nephew Daljit Singh Gilzian who allegedly acted because the conduit for Gilzian to take bribes. The previous minister himself was spared arrest following a keep order from the Punjab and Haryana Excessive Courtroom.
A sitting Congress MLA from Gurdaspur, Barindermeet Singh Pahra, can be dealing with a probe in a disproportionate belongings grievance. In January this yr, the VB carried out a technical evaluation of among the properties owned by his kinfolk.
Congress turncoats additionally in bother
Even former Congress leaders similar to Balbir Singh Sidhu and Gurpreet Singh Kangar —each joined the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering (BJP) final yr — are dealing with vigilance probes for amassing disproportionate belongings.
Former finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, who additionally joined the BJP earlier this yr, was questioned by the VB on Monday on a grievance by his political adversary, Sarup Chand Singla. Singla had alleged that Badal used his official place to purchase a plot in Bathinda for a really low worth, which Badal denied in a press convention Thursday.
(Edited by Smriti Sinha)
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