Akali-BJP Rift Widens As SAD Accuses BJP Minister Joshi Of Amassing Illegal Wealth

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Akalis Demand Joshi’s Resignation!

AMRITSAR – The rift between the ruling alliance partners — the SAD and the BJP — widened today. The SAD accused Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi of corruption and sought his resignation, while the BJP charged the SAD with patronising sand, land, liquor and cable mafia in the state.

The tussle between the two parties, which started over the Bhagtanwala dump yard row, moved to the next level with both sides openly targeting each other on different issues.

It was SAD’s Amritsar unit chief Upkar Singh Sandhu who fired a fresh salvo against Joshi by accusing him of amassing wealth through unfair means. He sought Joshi’s resignation and a Vigilance probe against him.

Addressing a press conference this afternoon, Sandhu, along with Deputy Mayor Avtar Singh, asked Joshi to put in his papers. He hit out at the minister, saying, “The assets of Joshi and his relatives have increased manifold during the past seven years. Instead of public service, he has been running the Local Bodies Department as a private company for the benefit of his family.”

He alleged Joshi’s son was using a vehicle belonging to the Improvement Trust, while his nephew’s petrol pump supplied fuel to MC vehicles. He alleged the pavement tiles being used in the city came from a factory owned by Joshi’s close relatives.