Akalis interfering in my work: BJP minister Mittal

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 6

Punjab Industry and Commerce Minister Madan Mohan Mittal today accused the ruling Akalis of continuously interfering with his work by bypassing his authority.

In an interview to The Tribune, BJP’s Mittal questioned the authority of the Akali Dal in forming committees, headed by SAD leaders, to make policy decisions related to either the industry or the commerce department. “Without consulting the minister concerned, how can the Akali Dal leadership ask its men to form policies related to my departments?” he asked.

Though he did not name anyone, it seems he was referring to committees being formed by Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, which are headed by two Akali Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPS) — NK Sharma (CPS, Industries) and Sarup Chand Singla (CPS, Excise).

The first committee was formed last year to look into the grievances of Punjab steel industrialists. It was on the suggestions of this committee that the state government had formulated a lump sum VAT policy to revive iron and steel units. Another committee, headed by the two CPS, was formed last week to look into the grievances of petroleum dealers after sale of fuel dropped in the state due to high taxes on petrol and diesel.

“The CPS who are not even authorised to make file notings or sign any files are now taking decisions on policy matters without consulting the minister concerned at any stage,” Mittal said, adding that the proper protocol and the coalition dharma must be maintained at all times by the alliance partners.

The minister’s outburst against the Akali leadership comes just days after he lambasted the state government officials of “ignoring” BJP ministers. In Banur to inaugurate an ITI last week, Mittal had voiced his displeasure over senior officials of the Patiala district administration giving the function a miss. “I had gone to Banur as a representative of the Chief Minister. By ignoring me, the officials refused to acknowledge the Chief Minister’s authority,” he said.

Today, he accused the Akali Dal of not giving the BJP its due. “The Industry Department was given to the BJP as part of the seat-sharing formula. But they (Akali Dal) cleverly bifurcated the department and took away Investment Promotion from the Industry Department. How will we promote Punjab’s industrialisation and industrial growth when a separate Investment Promotion Department has been formed under a different minister?” he said.

He said: “Though Industry Department is part of the Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion, we are not taking final decisions there.” The Investment Promotion Department is being headed by Sukhbir.