Opposition blames Cong leaders for patronising spurious liquor trade

Chandigarh, August 2

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today demanded action against Congress legislators responsible for “patronising spurious liquor trade” and demanded registration of a murder case against former Tarn Taran SSP Dhruv Dahiya and cases against distillery owners supplying unaccounted extra neutral alcohol (ENA) to bootleggers.

The party also asked the Chief Minister to own the responsibility for the tragedy and step down from his chair.

Addressing a press conference here, former minister Bikram Singh Majithia said Congress legislators, police officials and liquor mafia were responsible for the liquor tragedy and action should be taken against all three instead of targeting low-level officials only.

He also demanded that SSP Dahiya, who has been shifted to Amritsar after the tragedy, should be booked for murder. He said many people of the area had approached the SSP and complained about the bootleggers and leaders backing them. “Even the registration numbers of cars and scooters used to ferry illicit liquor were provided, besides the telephone numbers of the couriers and smugglers. Despite this, the SSP turned a blind eye to the entire racket. He should therefore be booked under Section 302 IPC,” he demanded. — TNS

‘Why target only junior officials?’

Former minister Bikram Singh Majithia said Congress legislators, police officials and liquor mafia were responsible for the liquor tragedy and action should be taken against all three instead of targeting lower-rung officials.