CM: Govt won’t allow political patronage for illegal mining

CM Sukhvinder Sukhu today said the state government will not allow political patronage to stone crushers indulging in illegal mining. Making a statement in the Vidhan Sabha on the issue, the CM said police would act sternly against illegal mining. The Vidhan Sabha witnessed heated exchanges between the CM and Hamirpur legislator Ashish Sharma on the issue.

“I want to make it clear that anybody engaged in illegal mining, however powerful, will not be spared,” he said. He alleged Hamirpur legislator Ashish Sharma and his family were engaged in this illegal mining activity.

Sukhu said police received a tip off that a stone crusher was illegally operating in Sujanpur area in Hamirpur. “The stone crusher is linked to people who consider themselves safe under the garb of powerful relations,” Sukhu alleged.

Ashish Sharma said the stone crushers that the CM is mentioning are not operating and have been closed for one-and-a-half years. “Ours is a joint family and we have nothing to hide as we are not doing anything illegal. My family has written a letter to the DGP that police entered our premises without permission and a case of trespassing be registered,” he said. — TNS