Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa today asked Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who holds the Home portfolio, to clarify on the charge made by Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi that those indulging in illegal mining of sand enjoyed “police patronage.”
“The charge has not been made by the Opposition, but a member of the state Cabinet. The Police Department is with the Deputy CM. Hence, he owes an explanation on the issue or else he should proclaim that his Cabinet colleague is lying,” he said.
Bajwa said the drug menace and the spiralling sand prices had emerged as the two main issues during the elections and the police had a hand in both. “With Joshi coming out into the open to defend his party, the cat is now out of the bag,” claimed Bajwa. He said it was common knowledge that powerful politicians controlled the drug and sand mafia in the state.
Congress Legislature Party Leader Sunil Jakhar said the BJP could not escape responsibility for illegal mining by putting all blame on the Akalis. He said if the situation was as bad as claimed by the BJP minister, the BJP should have walked out of the government. He said the Congress would “expose” the government on property tax and sand mafia.
