Cheema, AAP MLAS detained during protest against Ashu
Stopped by police while moving towards minister’s Ludhiana house; say will continue protest if he is not sacked; threaten to gherao CM, Sidhu
LUDHIANA : Leader of opposition in the Punjab assembly, Harpal Singh Cheema, his deputy Sarvjit Kaur Manuke and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Budh Ram were detained on Tuesday while protesting against food and civil supplies minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu over the alleged change of land use (CLU) scam, demanding his resignation.
The AAP leaders, who along with their supporters were heading to protest outside Ashu’s house, were stopped by police in Kochar market of Ludhiana. They accused Ashu of intimidating officials to support the land mafia.
Cheema said audios wherein Ashu is heard claiming himself to be above the high court have gone viral. “The high court should also take suo moto action in the case,” he demanded.
Division number 5 station house officer (SHO) Kulwant Singh said the AAP leaders were detained as a precautionary measure and were released later.
The scam is related to the establishment of allegedly illegal flats at Ishar Nagar. The matter rocked the Vidhan Sabha recently after an inquiry report got leaked in the media and the matter was raised by the AAP MLAS. The report included the names of Ashu, Karwal, three IAS officers among others, accusing them of patronising the mafia.
Ludhiana mayor Balkar Sandhu along with Congress leaders reached the protest site and had a heated argument with the AAP leaders. He accused the opposition parties of politicising the issue by making baseless allegations against Ashu.
Manuke said they will continue their protest till Ashu is sacked from the cabinet and will also gherao chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh and local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu soon. Manuke said the CM’S failure to act against Ashu raises questions over his credibility.
UMRANANGAL’S BAIL HEARING TODAY
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