Punjab revenue and public relations minister Bikram Singh Majithia, on Monday, claimed that for over a year, people with vested interests were tarnishing his image by dragging his name in the Bhola drug racket and making statements that were “baseless, nonsensical and malicious.”
Reacting to the news report ‘ED ready with evidence to summon Majithia but dragging its feet’ that appeared in HT on Monday, the minister, in a press statement said the so-called “clinching statements” that were made by the accused did not have evidence to support them and were mere conjecture.
Arrested druglord Jagdish Bhola and accused Jagjit Singh Chahal and Bittu Aulakh's father, Partap Singh, have in their statements to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), claimed that the minister knew Canada-based drug dealers Satpreet Satta and Parminder Singh Pindi.
Reacting to the allegations, Majithia said, “What was their allegation? That I knew Punjabi NRIs? Was that not my responsibility? As a public figure, I meet many people and it is expected of me. My doors are always open for every Punjabi,” he said.
About Satpreet Satta, Majithia said he had met a number of NRIs, including politicians from Canada, UK and US and people accompanying them, but failed to understand how he could be held responsible for what they were doing in their personal lives.
{{/usCountry}}About Satpreet Satta, Majithia said he had met a number of NRIs, including politicians from Canada, UK and US and people accompanying them, but failed to understand how he could be held responsible for what they were doing in their personal lives.
{{/usCountry}}“When an individual accompanying politicians from his country crosses international borders and is not questioned or caught by the authorities for any crime, how can I, on meeting the person, judge his intentions or deeds?” he said.
Regarding allegations of NRIs attending his marriage, Majithia clarified that people from all walks of life, from a common man from his Majitha assembly constituency to politicians from Canada and other countries, besides representatives of various political, religious and social organisations, were present on the occasion and added that no person with a questionable background was on his guest list.
“A politician meets and gets photographed with a number of people on a regular basis but that does not make him an accomplice in the individual’s misdeeds. What people do in their private life is their business and a politician has no way of knowing if they have broken the law,” Majithia added.
He strongly denied having made any calls or having any involvement as accused by Bhola. He also said he had never provided gunmen or an Innova vehicle to “any such person.”
Majithia said he was all for a thorough investigation so that justice could be delivered. “The issue should be dealt with, without losing the core issue of fight against drugs, by taking it to its logical end,” he said.