Khaira Says Congress Leaders Helping To Protect “Drug Tainted” Majithia

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CHANDIGARH – Former Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira today accused senior leaders of his party of “playing a friendly match” with the Akali- BJP government, rather than taking them head-on on certain issues and acting as a formidable Opposition.

In a statement issued here, Khaira expressed his displeasure with the Congress leadership for failing to corner Bikram Majithia in the Vidhan Sabha after he had “exposed” and alleged that Majithia had received Rs 70 lakh of hawala drug money from an accomplice of alleged druglord Jagdish Singh Bhola.

Majithia had denied the charges levelled by Khaira.

Khaira today said that the Congress could have forced the Speaker to adjourn the House and sought a statement from the Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Home Minister over the issue while pressing for the resignation of Bikram Majithia. “But unfortunately, this did not happen. On earlier occasions too, I have brought into public domain matters of corruption, crime and drugs against senior Akali leaders. All such anti-government issues were given a silent burial,” he alleged.

He alleged it was primarily due to lack of effective opposition that the Congress missed the chance to form the government in 2012 and suffered a decrease of poll percentage and seats in the recent Lok Sabha polls.

an� -A��@�� are at least 50 weapon-wielding Nihangs in every gurdwara where Punjab MPs, legislators and leaders are holding fort. The presence of armed men in state gurdwaras is merely Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s attempt to showcase to the Centre that there is a lot of tension following the passage of the Bill.

“But we all know that he thinks this is an opportune moment to step down as Chief Minister and hand over reins to his son, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal. That’s their game plan,” Chattha claimed.

HSGPC (ad hoc) teams led by Jagdish Singh Jhinda and Didar Singh Nalvi are taking out “peace marches” across the state to press for eviction of SGPC men from gurdwaras.

Chattha claimed he had no idea about when the Haryana Government would announce the 41-member HSGMC to manage the affairs of the state gurdwaras. But independent enquires revealed the government was likely to announce the committee within this week.

“The government wants to announce the committee so that the management and working of the gurdwaras can be streamlined. While names of prominent Sikhs who will serve on the ad hoc committee have been shortlisted, the final list will be out before this weekend,” a source said.

Not in a confrontationist mood on handing over the possession of gurdwaras to Haryana Sikhs, the government was hoping the aggression being displayed by Punjab would soon peter out, said sources.

“They can’t stay put in Haryana forever. The government is in no rush,” a Congress leader said.