PATIALA: Former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Thursday slammed his successor Bhagwant Mann for levelling false allegations of "cash for job" and asked him to take action instead of waiting for his given deadline.
On Thursday, Bhagwant Mann gave May 31, 2 PM, as deadline to Channi to make public information about his nephew seeking bribe from player in return for government job.
Replying Mann over his deadline, former CM CS Channi said that thousands of people might have taken photographs with him but he or his nephews never demanded any cash for job. He said AAP has only agenda to arrest Channi but this won’t let his morale down. Channi also claimed to have confirmed from his nephews and other relatives about these allegations and got assured answers that they were not involved in any such practices.
"I had already made 'Ardas' at Gurdwara Katalgarh Sahib, Chamkaur Sahib where no one can take false oath. I have got everything from this pious land. I had taken oath that thousands of people might have come to me and get clicked photographs or taken jobs, but I had never asked anyone to meet my any nephew for "Cash for job" or for any transfers. If I am on wrong foot, throw me in whichever jail you want but stop playing twitter – twitter. You bring the proof and give it to the investigative agency and register the case accordingly, instead of waiting for May 31. During my tenure as Technical Education Minister, I had adopted a principle to call candidates subject wise in a room and handover them the list of their posting. Once, I had to opt for a ‘toss’ after two candidates hailing from Patiala had stuck on the place of posting for 'Patiala'. A lot of negative propaganda over this ‘toss’ was made against me but today this has turned into my favour (by showing my clean image)", said Channi.
Channi challenged CM Bhagwant Mann to ask those employees who were given jobs or postings during his term if they had to pay a single penny for it.
"I never earned money with such false means and instead had worked hard during my life. I studied overnight and never had to pay my fee in college or university, except once during my higher education. I remained thrice gold medalist in handball intervarsity championship and also remained university player as goalkeeper. I got dislocated my shoulder otherwise I would have played in Indian handball team at international games. I gave jobs to deserving hockey players who played at the international level. You are levelling false allegations daily against me and had made this media trial and rally trial. Earlier you claimed I was abroad, now I am here in Punjab and arrest me, if I am on wrongfoot. AAP is having single dedicated motive to arrest me", Channi added.
"Sanjeedgi te imandari nal kmm lao, Parmatma di dargah sab ne jana. Mainu koi farak ni paina, tusi mere 6 months andar lagwao ya 5 saal. Eh jhooth di Riwayat chalni nahi. Tusi sachayi par kharh jo aa ke. Mai apne rabb de ghar te saccha han. (Be honest as everyone has to face God’s court. You send me to jail for six months or five years, I’ll not get affected but your this ‘custom of lies’ will not work. I am truthful before my God)”, said Channi.
Channi asked Bhagwant Mann to tell the public where "Goldy Brar" is whose arrest was announced from stage. He asked Bhagwant to also tell from which Punjab’s jail the interview of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi was done.
