Punjab Congress plans ‘pucca morcha’ outside former minister Laljit Bhullar’s Patti house

Turning up the heat on the ruling AAP over its anti-corruption narrative, the state Congress on Sunday decided to set up a ‘pucca morcha’ outside the Patti residence of former Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar.

In a meeting attended by PPCC chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Leader of the Opposition in state Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa, it was pointed out that since Punjab State Warehousing Corporation district manager Gagandeep Singh Randhawa allegedly committed suicide due to Bhullar, the party should put the heat on the ruling party. Apart from holding protests at the district level, the Congress has decided to hold candle light marches from Monday.

After the meeting, Bajwa demanded a probe into the allotment of tenders for storage and transportation of grains. “In the wake of the official ending life over alleged pressure by a former minister to allot tenders to his (minister’s) associates, it has become imperative to probe all tenders allotted by the AAP government across the state,” he said, adding that names of those who were allotted tenders be put in public domain.

He alleged tenders worth crores were allotted to close aides of AAP leaders. “The probe into the reasons for the suicide should include all tenders allotted by the Department of Food and Civil Supplies, Pungrain, Punjab Warehousing Corporation and other agencies,” he demanded.

The party also decided to press upon the ruling party to add provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and misuse of official position by the former minister to coerce a public servant into committing illegal acts in the FIR.

Bajwa said the responsibility did not end with one individual. “The role of the MD of the corporation, the Amritsar DC, the Chief Secretary and even the CM must be probed and they should be booked for dereliction of duty,” he said.

He added that Bhagwant Mann also held the cooperation portfolio, under which the Warehousing Department functioned, making him directly responsible for oversight and accountability in the matter.