(Welcoming action against four SEs for allotting civil works on single bids if they had done wrong, SAD asks Sidhu to demand and initiate action against Cong MLAs also on similar lines)
Chandigarh: The
Shiromani Akali Dal today asked Local Bodies minister Navjot Sidhu to tell Punjabis why he had not raised any protest against the illegal sand mining?He asked about the allotment of 18 sand mines to Congress legislators and their kin through single bids even though he had taken action against four Superintending Engineers (SEs) for allotting civil works on the same grounds.
In a statement here, SAD MPs Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Balwinder Singh Bhundur asked Navjot Sidhu to explain why he was not demanding and initiating action against Congress legislators? The legislators who had secured 18 sand mines through single bids. They gave the statements while welcoming the suspension of the four SEs for allotting civil works on single bids.
Isn’t the law same for everyone?
“Isn’t the law same for everyone? The law states that there should be a minimum of three bids for auction of sand mines to take place. Even the Rajasthan government cancelled its auction last year. It was when it did not get a minimum of three bids for sand mines put on the block. How come this issue has escaped your (Navjot Sidhu’s) attention despite appearing prominently in the media? Have you deliberately chosen to ignore this blatant violation in auction of sand mines? Are you shielding the culprits? Please tell Punjabis so that they may come to know about your real nature”, the MPs told the Local Bodies minister.
The MPS also asked Sidhu to explain whether his theatrics were limited to his political opponents and underlings only. “What else can explain your complete silence on this issue? You have conveniently forgotten to take up this issue in the cabinet. You have neither approached the CM to take action in this regard. Is it because the perpetrators of this scam are Congressmen? Have you so sold yourself out to the highest bidder that your famous voice of conscience has been completely silenced by greed?”
Congress legislators ganged up
Stating that there could not be two set of rules on the issue of single bids, the Akali MPs said Sidhu should immediately demand action against Congress legislators.They also demanded action against the officers responsible for this criminal lapse. “This is also your duty as a self proclaimed public spirited person. as the single bids have created a monopoly and resulted in a sharp increase in sand prices across the State”.
Mega scam involving benaami transactions
Mr Dhindsa and Mr Bhundur also asked Sidhu if he was keeping quiet because CM had justified the single bids. CM justified that bids had been accepted after ‘due deliberations’. “Punjabis would like to know what these deliberations were. The entire auction has proved to be a mega scam involving benaami transactions with a Nepalese cook. Also, the transactions with employees of Rana Gurjit bidding for sand mines worth Rs 50 crore.
Cheap and vulgar publicity
MPs asked Sidhu to earnestly examine and recommend action against those behind the 18 single mining bids.Further, the Akali MPs said that Sidhu is indulged in cheap and vulgar publicity only. “This is your moment of truth. Either rise to the occasion and help Punjabis by forcing action against Congress MLAs or admit you are a willful failure. Admit that you cannot clean up the system as you are sharing the spoils of power”.
—PTC News
