AAP protests, rejects probe panel, seeks Rana’s scalp
PROTESTING LEADERS TAKEN INTO PREVENTIVE CUSTODY; AAP ASKS JUSTICE JS NARANG (RETD) TO RECUSE FROM INQUIRY
CHANDIGARH: Rejecting the oneman judicial commission constituted by CM Captain Amarinder Singh to look into charges of impropriety against power minister Rana Gurjit Singh, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday held a dharna outside the Punjab assembly demanding immediate sacking of the minister.
The party also asked justice JS Narang (retd) to recuse from the inquiry due to “conflict of interest”. The party said justice Narang’s son Abhijit Singh Narang was handling cases of companies owned by Rana Gurjit and that of Capt JS Randhawa, who according to the AAP, has also taken part in the auction of mines on behalf of the minister.
AAP leaders led by state president Bhagwant Mann, leader of Opposition in Punjab assembly HS Phoolka, state co-president Aman Arora and Sukhpal Singh Khaira raised slogans against the Congress government outside the Vidhan Sabha. Lok Insaaf Party MLA Balwinder Singh Bains also joined the protesting AAP leaders. The AAP leaders were stopped near the barricades set up outside the Vidhan Sabha complex and were taken into preventive custody when they were trying to march towards the CM’s residence.
Later, accusing the Congress government of following in the footsteps of the previous AkaliBJP regime, Mann said the Congress leaders have surpassed the Akalis in the illegal business. “Amarinder, who used to claim that he put the Badals and their aides behind the bars seems helpless in taking action against his own minister,” said Mann.
Phoolka said there were evidences that Rana Gurjit was directly involved in the sand mining business but the CM was shying away from taking action against him.
“Amarinder’s silence indicates that he also has stakes in the sand business,” Phoolka alleged, adding that the CM should sack Rana Gurjit and appoint a sitting judge to inquire into the matter. The party will launch protests across the state if the government fails to act against the minister.
The AAP will also move the Enforcement Directorate and income tax department to probe into the source of income of Rana Gurjit’s cook who bagged the bid of ₹26 crore for sand mining.