Bikram Majithia Case: No vendetta, action based on STF report, says Punjab CM

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 24

Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi today said the NDPS case against Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia was not a creation of the Congress or the government, but the outcome of the STF report on the drugs case submitted to the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The report that has been made part of the FIR has enough evidence against the Akali leader, said the Chief Minister.

Also read: Old probe links Bikram Majithia to gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria

Bikram Majithia faces big challenge of proving allegations wrong

Seeking to counter the SAD’s charge of political vendetta, CM Channi, at a press briefing, said the Rs 6,000-crore drug trafficking case surfaced in 2013 and the police investigations revealed Majithia’s complicity.

“This is not my report but the report submitted to the High Court. One of the accused in the case, Bhola, mentioned Majithia’s name and the ED’s probe also highlighted the role of the Akali leader,” said Channi.

The case moved further as advocate Navkiran Singh moved the High Court seeking a probe into the matter. “The STF was asked by the High Court to file a report in the matter in 2017. The others named in the case are absconding. But neither the SAD-BJP government nor the previous Capt Amarinder Singh regime pursued the matter or opened the report to take action on it,” said Channi, adding when the change of guard happened, the report was opened and action taken on the basis of evidence.

CM Channi said be it liquor mafia, sand mafia or other illegal trades, all those related to the drugs case would face action.

He said acting against the drug mafia was a big challenge. “It is easy to say but difficult to act. Our previous governments did not act but those involved in drugs business have to be given exemplary punishment. No use of arresting the small players, unless you catch the big fish.”

Hitting out at Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Keriwal for terming the government action against Majithia as drama, Channi said it was easy to term it drama but difficult to act against “well-rooted drug mafia”. “It requires grit and moral courage to act against the mighty. I know how the police officers have to be given courage to overcome threat and money allurement.”

Reminding Kejriwal of the apology he had tendered to Majithia, the CM said: “BJP leader Manjinder Sirsa mediated between Kejriwal and Majithia. People of Punjab must know the character of the AAP leaders who talk of guarding the interests of Punjabis. Now , an FIR has been lodged against Majithia, Kejriwal must apologise to the people of Punjab. He must clarify where he stands now.”

Meanwhile, in Hoshiarpur, Channi said families which had lost their sons due to the menace of drugs would never forgive Badals, Kejriwal and Captain for their “sins” against the state. Addressing a gathering after dedicating Maharana Pratap Government College to the public, the Chief Minister said the three leaders were “culprits” of Punjab as they had patronised the drug trade in the state.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet has decided to extend the crop loan waiver scheme to remaining 1.50 lakh farmers, covering nearly two lakh families. Farmers having up to 5 acres, who have taken loans of up to Rs2 lakh, are covered under the scheme. The decision comes a day after a meeting between the CM and farmer unions.

Sirsa denies helping aap draft apology

BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Friday slammed CM Charanjit Singh Channi for his “baseless” claims about him drafting the apology tendered by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia. He asked the CM to either tender a public apology or be ready to face legal consequences.

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