POLICE HAVE FAILED TO CARRY OUT CM’S ORDER, SAYS SAD

CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday said the Punjab Police have failed to implement chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s orders to clamp down on ‘goonda tax’ (protection money) being collected from sand suppliers at the Bathinda refinery.

Only an inquiry by a sitting high court judge can pin down the real culprits, former Akali minister Maheshinder Singh Grewal said in a statement here. Even the Indian Air Force (IAF) authorities have now complained of the problem.

He said the SAD had demanded arrest of all those involved in collection of goonda tax, including finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal’s brother-inlaw Jaijeet Singh Johal within 24 hours but no action was taken.

“It seems the CM’s writ does not run in the Bathinda parliamentary constituency in which Manpreet Badal calls the shots. Manpreet apparently is not giving a free hand to the police authorities to question and take action against his brother-in-law who is accused of collecting protection money,” said Grewal.

The Akali leader also condemned Manpreet Badal for trying to play victim card by stating that the SAD was making allegations against his family members.

“We have not made these allegations. It is the people as well as transporters and the Bathinda refinery management which is stating this. If Manpreet Badal has nothing to hide, he should not stop the police from doing their job,” he said.

He said contractors supplying sand and gravel to the Bhisiana air force station in Bathinda had also complained to the IAF authorities and the district police against extortion from trucks entering the air force station.