Inquiry order by CM a sham, Randhawa must resign: SAD

Tribune Reporters

Chandigarh/Batala, Dec 8

Rejecting the inquiry into the politician-gangster nexus ordered by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, the SAD said on Sunday it was just an attempt to get a clean chit for Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.

The SAD has demanded an inquiry by the CBI or that by a sitting judge of the high court to uncover the “patronage” being given to criminals by the Jails Minister.

In a statement, SAD spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema said, “It has been proven that notorious gangsters like Jaggu Bhagwanpuria are not only having a field day in prison under Randhawa's watch but their extortion rackets are also flourishing. The minister has also batted for giving a clean chit to another gangster  in a Cabinet meeting and has even chided Muktsar SSP for calling him a gangster. What more evidence is needed in the case.” 

The SAD leader stated propriety demanded that Randhawa should resign immediately to facilitate a free and fair inquiry into his links with gangsters as well as rampant corruption in the Jail Department under his leadership. 

Meanwhile, SAD’s protest against the alleged police inaction in the Dalbir Singh Dhilwan murder case has virtually turned into a slanging match between senior Akali leadership on the one hand and Randhawa on the other. 

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, former minister Bikram Singh Majithia and several former and sitting legislators raised slogans in front of the SSP office yesterday. 

Dhilwan, two-time former sarpanch from Akali Dal, was gunned down on November 18. Since then, little headway has been made in the case. 

Sukhbir said the Batala police had gone into a “state of inertia” following the “diktats” from Randhawa. “The officer is deliberately not going full steam ahead because he is hand in glove with the minister. Only one person has been nabbed,” he said. Sukhbir said he had proof that Randhawa had asked the police to turn a blind eye to the goings on. 

To this, Randhawa retorted, “I will reply only when Sukhbir lays bare the proof he is so irresponsibly talking about. His is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black. I ask him to first set his own house in order before training his guns on me.” He said he was ready to face any probe. “I am ready to face a judicial probe as is being demanded by Majithia or even one by the CBI. At the same time he, too, should be ready to face an inquiry into his links with gangsters,” he said.