AAP demands all-party probe panel to curb ‘mafia’

CHANDIGARH: The opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday demanded an all-party committee of MLAs to look into illegal mining in several parts of Punjab. A delegation of AAP MLAs led by leader of opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira made the demand in a meeting with assembly speaker Rana KP Singh.

The all-party committee should be set up to visit all sites where illegal mining is being carried out by mafia backed by politicians, causing huge financial loss to the public exchequer, the delegation said, urging him to consider the request “positively, in public interest”. The delegation included AAP’s state unit co-president Aman Arora, deputy leader of opposition Sarabjeet Kaur Manuke, Kanwar Sandhu, Jagdev Singh Kamalu, Rupinder Kaur Ruby, Baldev Singh, Harpal Singh Cheema, Jagtar Singh Hissowal, Kulwant Singh Pandori and Jai Kishan Rodi.

“In its election manifesto, the Congress had promised to put an end to illegal mining undertaken by the mafia-politician nexus during the SAD-BJP rule; but, taking advantage of the chief minister’s soft approach on the issue of illegal mining during the last 8-10 months, mining mafia backed by politicians again raised its head and started indulging in illegal mining across riverbeds in the state,” the delegation said, according to a press release.

Khaira said reports of illegal mining are coming from Khizrabad near Mullanpur, Samrala, Rupnagar, Rahon, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Harike, Tarn Taran, Shahkot and Pathankot.

He said local bodies minister Navjot Sidhu and state Congress president and Gurdaspur MP Sunil Jakhar on February 4 “admitted” to the menace of unchecked illegal mining.

In its manifesto, Cong promised to put an end to illegal mining by mafiapolitician nexus during SADBJP rule; taking advantage of CM’s soft approach, mining mafia backed by politicians again raised its head. AAP DELEGATION TO VIDHAN SABHA SPEAKER