Sand mining ‘scam’: Not happy with Rana Gurjit row, Rahul tells Captain

Rahul’s office had also sought a detailed explanation from one of Amarinder’s aides in the chief minister’s office (CMO) on the issue recently and the action taken by the government

With the Captain Amarinder Singh government caught on the wrong foot on recent sand mining auctions, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday expressed his displeasure to the Punjab chief minister over allegations of benami transactions against power and irrigation minister Rana Gurjit Singh.

Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh and (right) Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi. (HT File Photo)

Amarinder, who was at New Delhi to attend the ‘antim ardas’ of former Punjab DGP KPS Gill, met Rahul early in the day. Acting on the feedback Rahul received from Congress leaders in Punjab, including some MPs, he has reportedly asked Amarinder that the party’s image was suffering owing to the unsavoury row.

Rahul’s office had also sought a detailed explanation from one of Amarinder’s aides in the chief minister’s office (CMO) on the issue recently and the action taken by the government. They were informed about the judicial probe ordered by the government under Justice (retd) JS Narang, which has also been rubbished by the Opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the SAD.

One of party’s MPs from Punjab is also learnt to have written to Gandhi, saying that the entire controversy has tarnished the party’s image in just two months of the new government coming to power and has demanded that Rana be sacked.

Amarinder is also learnt to have discussed the cabinet expansion with Rahul.