Bholath MLA Khaira seeks vigilance probe

JALANDHAR: Demanding a highlevel probe into the mining auction held recently, Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira wrote a letter to BK Uppal, chief Punjab vigilance here on Friday.

Referring to the media reports about cabinet minister Rana Gurjit Singh’s employees buying sand mines in crores, Khaira said that investment of huge ‘benami’ amounts and ‘hawala’ money has been made, to get gravel and sand mining contracts through e-auction. “Amit Bahadur, a cook in the office of Rana Sugars bagged an expensive mining contract at the auction at Saidpur Khurd village in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar at ₹26.51 crore,” he wrote. He said that another employee of Rana Sugars, Kulwinder Paul Singh, has bagged the Mehadipur quarry for ₹9.21 crore. Kulwinder is said to be a liaison man for Rana Sugars and deals with different government departments.

Khaira said that Rana is now lying to people, claiming that they are not his employees. “Give me the charge of vigilance inspector for just 24-hours and I will send all guilty persons in this scam, behind the bars. I have proofs that the whole amount was credited from one account only,” said the AAP MLA. He said that chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh should dismiss Rana Gurjit till he gets a clean chit.

WHY IS SIDHU MUM OVER RANA GURJIT ISSUE, ASKS KALIA

Senior BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia attacked the Congress and questioned Navjot Singh Sidhu’s silence over state power and irrigation minister Rana Gurjit Singh’s case. Kalia said state Congress chief Sunil Jakhar and Sidhu were vocal on the issue of sand and gravel during the Akali BJP regime, “why are they not saying anything now.” “The whole exercise of e-bidding has become a farce now. The leaders should express their opinion and clear their stand on this issue,” said the BJP leader.