Name Cong leaders collecting ‘goonda tax’: Khaira to Capt

Perneet Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 19

Leader of the Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira today urged Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to make public the names of Congress MLAs and their relatives who were involved in “goonda tax” collection and illegal mining.

Talking to mediapersons after visiting the Guru Gobind Singh refinery this evening, Khaira stated that during the recent Cabinet meeting, a minister had accused a colleague’s kin of collecting “goonda tax” from contractors here. He said it was the CM’s moral responsibility to disclose the names of erring ministers, MLAs and their relatives.

He said blatant illegal mining by Congress leaders, particularly in Malwa, was being reported daily. Khaira claimed that the ADGP (Intelligence) had given a detailed report, along with names of Congress leaders involved in illegal mining, to the Chief Minister.

“A White Paper should be issued by the government, calculating the quantum of “goonda tax” collected over the years and the names of those involved. The government should also ensure the recovery of the illegally charged amount,” he said.

The AAP leader said he had met refinery officials as well as the transporters. “I have told them that if the state government fails to resolve the issue, I am ready to camp at the refinery gate and support them in their fight against extortion,” he added.

Earlier, Khaira and other AAP leaders as well as workers staged a dharna at Maur, seeking justice for the families of the 2017 blast victims. He said the guilty were roaming free even almost 13 months after the incident. He alleged that the Congress and the SAD had cashed in on the blast during the Assembly elections while blaming AAP for the same.

He said the government should bring the guilty to book and extend help to the aggrieved families. Khaira said AAP would raise both issues — Maur blast and “goonda tax” — during the Assembly’s Budget session next month.

The Leader of the Opposition was accompanied by Talwandi Sabo MLA Baljinder Kaur and Maur legislator Jagdev Singh Kamalu.