AAP: Beneficiaries of quarries have links with SAD, Congress

Chandigarh, October 9

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Alleging the involvement of both the SAD and Congress in illegal mining and collection of ‘goonda’ tax in Punjab, AAP has demanded that both the parties should come clear on the issue and bring transparency in the system.

AAP RTI wing co-convener Dinesh Chadha said that both the parties make allegations against each other, but RTI documents reveal that the beneficiaries of quarries have close links with these two parties. He alleged, “Illegal mining and ‘goonda’ tax mafia have been troubling the common man, transporters and crusher operators for the past many years. This mafia has been destroying natural resources by unscientifically mining green mountains. The Congress and Akali Dal leaders are collecting ‘goonda’ tax despite making allegations against each other. RTI documents show that this mafia is controlled by Akali Dal and Congress leaders having close links with the Badal family, Captain Amarinder Singh and Rahul Gandhi.”

Chadha alleged that mining contracts for all the quarries in Punjab are in the names of close relatives and associates of Congress and Akali Dal leaders. — TNS