The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may be trying a wait-and-watch policy on the matter, but the party’s MLA and chief parliamentary secretary Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu on Wednesday said Punjab revenue minister Bikram Majithia must quit since his name has surfaced in the probe into the drug racket that has become a burning issue in the state.
“I am not saying that he has done anything wrong or there are any concrete proofs, but now when this issue has become a burning issue and also there are news reports that ED (Enforcement Directorate) is ready with some questionnaire, I feel the minister must resign on moral grounds,” said Dr Sidhu, wife of former Amritsar MP and BJP firebrand Navjot Singh Sidhu. Her husband has been brutal in his criticism of alliance partner SAD over the past many months.
Meanwhile, state BJP chief Kamal Sharma said the party “won’t target individuals”.
As for Dr Sidhu, stressing that chief minister and SAD patron Parkash Singh Badal must ask Majithia to step down, she added, “It is definitely the responsibility of the CM… He must react.”
To the argument that that ED had not yet summoned the minister, Dr Sidhu replied, “I am not saying that he is at fault. I am simply saying that Mr Majithia should quit on moral grounds. Once the entire probe is over, he can be taken back. For now, he should not be in the chair.”
She echoed a question repeatedly being asked by the opposition: “If Sarwan Singh Phillaur can resign on moral grounds, why not Majithia?” Phillaur had resigned from the state cabinet after his son was summoned by the ED in the case. The BJP has been demanding the resignation of CPS and Akali MLA Avinash Chander on the same grounds.
{{/usCountry}}She echoed a question repeatedly being asked by the opposition: “If Sarwan Singh Phillaur can resign on moral grounds, why not Majithia?” Phillaur had resigned from the state cabinet after his son was summoned by the ED in the case. The BJP has been demanding the resignation of CPS and Akali MLA Avinash Chander on the same grounds.
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