Capt to look into mining contract row: Jakhar
CHANDIGARH: The Congress leaders assured that Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh is looking into the allegations that state irrigation and power minister Rana Gurjit Singh has acquired mines through ‘benaami transactions’ and assured that the state government is committed to uphold the trust of people.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has demanded sacking of the minister, while the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have demanded probe into the allegations that he acquired sand and gravel mines in the name of his company’s cook and staff.
However, Rana Gurjit has denied the charges and said that neither he nor his company — Rana Sugars Limited — has any direct or indirect stakes in the sand mining business.
Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar said, “Captain Sahib (Amarinder Singh) is looking into the matter and getting all the details.”
“Congress and Captain are aware of the fact that people have voted for the party and reposed their faith in it. I can assure you on behalf of the CM and the party that we will uphold the trust,” he said.
A week back, a two-day e-auction of sand mines in Punjab culminated with bids worth ₹1,026 crore secured for 89 mines, the highest-ever earnings for the state from sand mining sector.
Opposition parties, including the Shiromani Akali Dal and Bharatiya Janata Party have pointed fingers at the allotment of mining contracts to Amit Bahadur for ₹26.51 crore, Kulvinder Paul Singh for ₹9.21 crore, Gurinder Singh for ₹4.11 crore and Balraj Singh for ₹10.58 crore.
However, Rana Gurjit said, “Some of my former employees had reportedly bid for the mines. That does not imply that I have interests or stakes in the business.”
“There are thousands of employees who have worked with me and left from time-totime. I cannot be held accountable for what they do after leaving my companies,” added the irrigation and power minister, Rana Gurjit Singh.