Chandigarh: When former Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal proclaimed his innocence after being questioned by the state vigilance bureau over a land deal in Bathinda, he additionally unleashed a tirade in opposition to state Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, triggering a confrontation.
Badal, who had left the Congress to affix the BJP earlier this yr, lashed out at his former colleague Warring whereas addressing a press convention Tuesday over the vigilance bureau calling him for questioning.
He alleged that Warring — who was his adversary even once they have been within the Congress collectively — had surreptitiously met Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and fallen at his ft, begging to be spared from any potential vigilance probes.
In retaliation, Warring rapidly issued a video assertion, vehemently refuting the allegations. He additionally stated that Manpreet Badal was “corrupt” and that everybody in Bathinda knew of it. He even accused Badal of stealing authorities furnishings.
The Punjab vigilance bureau questioned Badal for 4 hours Monday, based mostly on a grievance lodged by BJP chief Sarup Chand Singla, his political rival in Bathinda.
Singla has alleged that Manpreet misused his official place because the finance minister in 2021 to buy a residential plot in Bathinda at an especially low worth.
Throughout his press convention, Manpreet defended himself, stating that the plot was acquired by means of a normal e-auction course of, and he had no means to affect the worth.
“I’ve all the time been a robust votary of accountability in public life and I welcome the vigilance bureau asking me in regards to the buy of this plot. However the grievance in opposition to me is totally baseless. The truth is, I’ve been on the forefront of making an attempt to avoid wasting each single penny of the Punjab authorities’s treasury,” he stated.
Nevertheless, because the press convention progressed, Badal’s tone turned extra combative as he instantly challenged Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and made unflattering remarks about Raja Warring.
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‘I’m not Raja Warring who will put on a masks’
Within the press convention, Badal emphasised his dedication to accountability in public life and talked about his efforts to avoid wasting authorities funds
“I’ve led by instance. I’ve by no means charged the federal government for the gasoline in my official automobiles and even for my air and rail journey,” he added, additional claiming that he was among the many “handful of farmers” who paid energy payments for a number of tubewells.
Badal then challenged Chief Minister Mann to make use of all his obtainable sources to seek out any proof of monetary misappropriation whereas in workplace.
“Let me inform you Bhagwant,” Badal stated, “I’m neither afraid of you nor of your vigilance bureau. Use all of your would possibly to seek out something in opposition to me, however you’ll not.”
He then in contrast himself favourably to Raja Warring, who, in response to him, resorted to disguises and pleas for mercy.
“I’m not a Raja Warring who will cowl his head with a cap and put on a masks to cover his face and meet Bhagwant Mann to beg for mercy,” Badal alleged.
“I’m accountable to the individuals of Punjab who I’ve served a number of instances as finance minister and as MLA. If anybody finds that I’ve carried out one thing incorrect then it isn’t for the vigilance bureau to behave in opposition to me. I give the fitting to the general public to shoot me lifeless,” Badal stated.
‘Manpreet is a crafty man’
In response to Badal’s accusations, Warring refuted ever assembly Mann within the alleged method.
“I don’t want to fulfill Mann like this, nor can one meet him surreptitiously,” Warring stated in a video assertion.
He then pointed a finger at Badal. “All people in Bathinda is aware of how corrupt he’s. All people is aware of in whose identify a tax was collected in Bathinda. Manpreet is a crafty man and is used to fooling individuals together with his huge phrases and excessive ethical claims whereas in actuality he has harassed the individuals of Gidderbaha and Bathinda to no finish,” Warring alleged.
He additionally questioned Manpreet’s claims of following austere practices.
“Manpreet claims that he didn’t take any particular person in his safety, which isn’t true. He had greater than three dozen males in his safety who have been working as helpers in his farms. Additionally it is publicly recognized that when Manpreet vacated his official residence as finance minister, he even picked up the federal government furnishings and took it with him. He paid for it solely when it turned public,” Warring alleged.
No love misplaced
Even Manpreet Badal and Raja Warring have been Congress colleagues, they didn’t share a heat equation.
When Badal left the Congress in January to affix the BJP, Warring had tweeted a “good riddance” message, calling the previous “congenitally energy hungry.
Good riddance.@MSBADAL is congenitally energy hungry. He joined @INCIndia figuring out occasion was successful.
5 yrs is very long time for somebody like him to remain out of energy for causes not unknown to anybody.
As an alternative of crying martyrdom, he must be apologising to Congress for betrayal.— Amarinder Singh Raja Warring (@RajaBrar_INC) January 18, 2023
Badal, who was beforehand within the Akali Dal, had represented the Gidderbaha constituency as an MLA a number of instances. He was later defeated by Warring, who was supported by Rahul Gandhi, within the 2012 meeting elections.
The stress between the 2 leaders endured even after Manpreet joined the Congress in 2016 and shifted to the Bathinda seat.
