Khaira to challenge Narang panel’s report in HC

CHANDIGARH:Leader of Opposition in Punjab assembly Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Friday outrightly rejected the report of justice JS Narang Commission that gave a “clean chit” to power and irrigation minister Rana Gurjit Singh in the controversial sand mines auctions in the state.

Calling the inquiry “pre-meditated,” the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Bholath accused the Capt Amarinder Singh-led Congress government of wasting public money to try and exonerate the minister.

“The inquiry ordered by Amarinder was a tailor-made exercise to clear the minister’s name through a handpicked commission head. The government’s claims of zero tolerance to corruption have fallen flat,” he said while addressing a press conference a day after justice Narang submitted his report to the CM.

The inquiry panel has, in its report, said that there was no loss of revenue to the government and the auction was carried out in a transparent manner through e-tendering process.

Khaira said the government had tried to legitimise the irregularities but would not be allowed to get away with this. He said the “terms of reference” notified by the state government had raised doubt about an impartial inquiry.

“The question of money trail or the source of money deposited in the accounts of Amit Bahadur and other employees of the minister was not part of the inquiry,” Khaira said, declaring that he would knock the doors of the high court in this regard.

He also said that chief minister should make the report public.

REPORT WAS SCRIPTED AT CM RESIDENCE, SAYS TARUN CHUGH

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged that the report of the Narang Commission was scripted at the residence of Capt Amarinder Singh, much before the panel was constituted.

Chugh said employees working in the family concerns of Rana Gurjit Singh, including Nepali cook Amit Bahadur, had obtained mining rights worth over Rs 50 crore, which was a clear cut case of ‘benami’ transactions and abuse of authority.

He said the probe report would prove to be just an eyewash and a ploy to bail out Amarinder’s blueeyed minister.

The BJP leader said the chief minister, who rode to power with slogans of good and clean governance, had already indicated that he was not here to fight corruption.

“Capt is was making all-out efforts to shield the corrupt by throwing his weight behind the minister, who was actually caught red-handed securing the mining rights through his own employees,” he added.

PANEL HAS GIVEN A ’CLEAN CHIT’ TO POWER MINISTER RANA GURJIT IN CONTROVERSIAL SAND MINES AUCTIONS IN PUNJAB