Chandigarh: Whereas the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Celebration (AAP) have come collectively within the INDIA bloc, the scenario in Punjab is one other story altogether, with the previous alleging a “vicious witch-hunt” in opposition to 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 critical probes ordered by the federal government. As many as 4 former Congress cupboard ministers have been arrested by the Vigilance Bureau (VB) on prices of alleged corruption.
Congress chief Sukhpal Khaira, who says he’s the most recent sufferer, tweeted Friday about AAP “sparing no alternative to marginalise @INCPunjab by slapping maliciously false felony circumstances”.
Later, in a press assertion, Khaira added that three FIRs had been registered in opposition to him prior to now 16 months, the most recent being in Might this 12 months. He stated the FIR was registered in Bholath in Kapurthala on the premise of a 51-year-old income report of his household when he was solely seven. Khaira stated that the FIR was registered as a fallout of his having vociferously spoken up on the allegations of sexual misconduct in opposition to cupboard minister Lal Chand Kataruchakk. He alleged that the FIR was aimed toward silencing him.
Disgrace on @ArvindKejriwal & @BhagwantMann for his or her double requirements as on one hand they’re working from pillar to put up for opposition unity and INDIA alliance whereas alternatively they’re sparing no alternative to marginalize @INCPunjab by slapping maliciously false felony… pic.twitter.com/ZIUXqWIxIz
— Sukhpal Singh Khaira (@SukhpalKhaira) July 28, 2023
A number of different Congress leaders have objected to their occasion 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 occasion 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 telephone however he didn’t take the decision. This report can be up to date if and when he responds.
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Lengthy checklist of circumstances
On 9 July, former deputy chief minister O.P. Soni was arrested by the VB on prices 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 stated 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 related prices of amassing disproportionate belongings. After a glance out round was issued in opposition to 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 in opposition to him politically motivated and challenged Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to do “no matter he wished” in opposition to 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 12 months for alleged irregularities within the award of transport contracts for carrying foodgrains. Ashu denied the allegations and was granted bail by the excessive courtroom in March this 12 months.
Former welfare minister Dharamsot was arrested in February this 12 months on prices 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 courtroom granted Dharamsot common bail in Might this 12 months.
Arora, a former industries and commerce minister who was already in jail in an alleged bribery case, was arrested in January this 12 months for his alleged involvement within the allotment of commercial plots by the Punjab State Industries Export Company. He obtained bail in April from the Punjab and Haryana Excessive Court docket.
Former minister Sangat Singh Gilzian is dealing with corruption prices regarding his tenure as forest minister. In July final 12 months, 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 Court docket.
A sitting Congress MLA from Gurdaspur, Barindermeet Singh Pahra, can also be dealing with a probe in a disproportionate belongings criticism. In January this 12 months, the VB carried out a technical evaluation of a number of the properties owned by his kin.
Congress turncoats additionally in hassle
Even former Congress leaders similar to Balbir Singh Sidhu and Gurpreet Singh Kangar —each joined the Bharatiya Janata Celebration (BJP) final 12 months — are dealing with vigilance probes for amassing disproportionate belongings.
Former finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, who additionally joined the BJP earlier this 12 months, was questioned by the VB on Monday on a criticism 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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