Tweet won’t do, catch big fish: Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 8

Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Khaira today demanded the setting up of an all-party committee which should be authorised to inspect all mining sites in the state. Alleging that Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had failed to reveal the names of influential MLAs or ministers primarily responsible for illegal land mining, Khaira said after the CM’s tweet, merely some truck drivers and company functionaries were nabbed.

He said: “The Aam Aadmi Party is firmly of the opinion that the Mining Department and the police will not be able to act since powerful people and huge money is involved. We met the Speaker on February 6 and demanded that an all-party committee of the Vidhan Sabha be formed.”

He further alleged that Akali leaders were part of the mining mafia and the Congress had been shielding them too. “While the Congress leadership has taken the frontal role, the Akalis are sleeping partners in the Rs 10,000 crore mining industry,” he alleged.

Cong MLAs involved: CPI

Chandigarh: The Communist Party of India (CPI) on Thursday flayed the Punjab Government for failing to protect the state from the mining mafia. In a press note, CPI’s National Executive member Dr Joginder Dayal said that the Congress came to power on the promise of finishing off the mining mafia. “But under the present rule, the mafia has crossed all limits when compared to the previous government,” he said. He said that it is an open secret that the mines are owned by front men of MLAs from SAD as well as Congress. — TNS