Launching a fresh offensive against leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for supporting an accused in a narcotics case, the Punjab Congress on Tuesday sought their expulsion from the state cabinet.
The move comes in the wake of publication of photographs of three ministers -- Bikram Singh Majithia, Parminder Singh Dhindsa and Gulzar Singh Ranike -- and SAD MLA Harmit Singh with SAD leader Raninder Singh Bittu Aulakh, accused in the narcotics case.
Congress leaders -- general secretary Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) Fateh Jung Singh Bajwa,
MLA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, District Congress Committee (urban) president Jugal Kishore Sharma, District Congress Committee (rural) president Harpartap Singh Ajnala, former ministers Gurchet Singh Bhullar and Sardul Singh among others -- in a joint statement urged the chief minister to dismiss Bikram Singh Majithia, Parminder Singh Dhindsa and Gulzar Singh Ranike, from his cabinet for sharing the stage with Aulakh at an official function of SAD in Tarn Taran.
Terming it as a matter of grave concern, they said, "Though Bittu is an accused in a narcotics case, he is getting VIP treatment from senior SAD leaders."
{{/usCountry}}Terming it as a matter of grave concern, they said, "Though Bittu is an accused in a narcotics case, he is getting VIP treatment from senior SAD leaders."
{{/usCountry}}The Congress leaders alleged if these three ministers were allowed to continue in the cabinet, they would influence the investigation process into the multi-crore synthetic drug racket.
Stating that Aulakh had confessed to supplying drugs to Jagdish Bhola, the Congress leaders alleged that this was not possible without political patronage.
They demanded that the case be transferred to the CBI or a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana high court for investigation.
The Congress leaders further said the Punjab Congress led by PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa would hold state-level dharna against the drug mafia in Punjab.