AAP, SAD seek power minister’s dismissal

CHANDIGARH/JALANDHAR: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday joined the chorus demanding sack of Punjab power minister Rana Gurjit Singh following media report that his cook and other employees got contracts in e-auction of 89 sand and gravel mining sites in the state.

Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha and AAP leader HS Phoolka asked CM Captain Amarinder Singh to take action against the minister for indulging in wrong practices and acquiring “benami” contracts. Questioning the CM’s silence, Phoolka said: “Amarinder accuses Akali leaders of looting Punjab for 10 years, but now when same is happening in his government, he has turned a blind to it. What is stopping the CM to take action against Rana Gurjit?”

AAP MLA from Bolath Sukhpal Singh Khaira also demanded

Rana Gurjit’s dismissal from the Cabinet. “The government should tell about the source of income of the minister’s cook, and if he, along with other employees Kulwinder Singh, Balraj Singh and Gurinder Singh, have bagged quarries of worth ₹50 crore,” he said.

He said the minister’s Rana Sugars also has an agreement to

sell power to Punjab State Power Corporation Limited which is conflict of interest.

Chief whip of the SAD and Adampur MLA Pawan Kumar Tinu also demanded Rana Gurjit’s resignation saying that a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation should be ordered and the auction should be cancelled.