Won’t allow CBI to enter Punjab: Capt Amarinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 21

Citing “poor” track record of

the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the Bargari case, which it had closed “without any investigation”, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Saturday reiterated his government wouldn’t allow the agency to enter the state without permission.

Pointing out that eight states, including Punjab, had withdrawn general consent to the CBI, the CM said the agency was being increasingly used to play politics, and a fair probe could not be ensured through it.

Dismissing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a non-entity in Punjab’s political arena, Capt told a TV channel that the BJP was welcome to contest all 117 Vidhan Sabha seats in the state. He said the party would not be able to win even a single seat without an alliance partner. The Congress had, in fact, no challenge in the state, with even the Akalis and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) posing no threat, he said, adding that neither of these parties had ever talked about anything positive in the interest of the state.

With elections in the state still around 18 months away, it is not possible to say which issue will dominate the elections, said Capt while expressing the hope that the BJP would resolve the farmers’ grievances soon. “Farmers want the MSP to remain and the Central Government should take steps to ensure that. The adamant stand being taken by both the Centre and the farmers, prolonging the agitation, is affecting supplies to the frontline soldiers while damaging Punjab’s interests. The agitation is the democratic and constitutional right of the farmers, which the Centre has evidently realised, apparent from their decision to call kisan unions for talks,” the CM said.

He reiterated that corporates were welcome to buy foodgrains in Punjab as long as they follow the existing marketing system, built on close ties between farmers and arhtiyas.

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