CHANDIGARH – The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) released what it claimed were statements of three drug smugglers made before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to press their claim that Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia was “involved in the international drug racket”.
AAP’s leader Sanjay Singh and Majithia are already locked in a legal battle over the issue.
Majithia rubbished the allegations. He told The Tribune that these charges were made against him last year as well, but neither the ED nor the Punjab and Haryana High Court or any other agency found any basis for trying him as an accused. He said he had already filed a suit against AAP leaders for defaming him.
Ashish Khaitan, AAP’s national spokesperson, along with Sanjay Singh and Himmat Singh Shergill, in a press conference here, alleged the smugglers had stated before the ED that Majithia’s home in Amritsar and his vehicles were used for illegal activities.
They said they had no hope of an impartial inquiry into the allegations as the BJP and SAD were alliance partners and the ED and the Punjab Police were under them. He said the AAP would take action when it formed the government in the state.
They also accused state Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh of helping Majithia by not supporting his party leaders’ demand of a CBI probe into the matter. They alleged Amarinder had family ties with Majithia due to which he saved him.
Meanwhile, addressing the media, Akali leaders Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Daljit Singh Cheema, Manjit Singh GK and Bibi Jagir Kaur supported Majithia. “AAPhas found nothing to take on the government. They are trying to settle political scores by giving false statements,” said Grewal. Majithia has neither business nor personal relations with either Bittu Aulakh or the two Canadians named in the investigations, they said.
