Dullo threatens dharna at CM house over illicit liquor trade

Cong now party of defectors

Taksali workers of the Congress, who fought valiantly against terrorism, are feeling cheated today as Congress has been occupied by defectors

Shamsher Singh Dullo, Cong MP

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 12

Slamming his own state government over the illicit liquor trade, Congress’ Rajya Sabha MP Shamsher Singh Dullo today gave an ultimatum to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to nail the culprits, or else he would stage a sit-in at his official residence in Chandigarh.

In Amritsar to inaugurate a hall of Ravidas temple, Dullo, a former PCC president, alleged the Capt Amarinder Singh government had failed to initiate any action against illegal distilleries operating in the state.

Referring to the spurious liquor deaths in Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran in July 2020, Dullo said: “Capt Amarinder had termed the hooch tragedy a ‘murderous act’, but, except for few arrests, nothing concrete happened. Over 100 persons died; a majority of them were Dalits. No serious cognisance was taken by the government as liquor mafia has the patronage. I am giving Capt Amarinder 15 to 20 days to register a case against the owners of the distilleries, otherwise I will not refrain from staging a dharna at his residence.”

On the multi-crore SC scholarship scam, Dullo said: “The CAG report revealed it was a Rs 400 crore scam. At least 15 lakh students belonging to the SC/BC category stare at a bleak future. If they procured admissions, the government didn’t pay the fee, and those who passed could not get degrees in Punjab. These children will go into depression and fall prey to drugs and crime.”

“The Dalits constitute around 48 per cent of the population in Punjab, still no Dalit could be elevated as CM. I ask the community to proceed towards ‘raj satta’ (power) to get their due”, he said.

Later, participating in a convention of the Dalit community at Garhshankar in Hoshiarpur), Dullo continued with his tirade against the Congress government. He said the government had failed to crack down on mining and drug mafias, and ensure justice in sacrilege cases.” He warned the party against ignoring Hindus, Dalits, and Backward Classes. He said, “The Congress will have to bear the brunt in the upcoming Assembly elections.”