DASUYA: Intensifying his attacks on chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal has claimed that the former had approached him during SAD-BJP government to get his brother Manmohan Singh’s name extricated from the Ludhiana City Centre scam and in lieu of that even offered support to their government.
He has not just once again accused the CM of patronising mining mafia in the state but has also said that he is biggest illegal colonizer in the state.
"Channi has little moral standing. He had no qualms in approaching me to save his brother from being implicated in the City Centre scam case. He begged for this and also offered support to the SAD as an independent candidate," Badal said on Thursday while speaking to mediapersons during his campaign for BSP candidate Sushil Kumar "Pinky" Sharma.
Asking the CM to first introspect on the manner in which he had "stooped very low to save his kin who faced corruption case," Badal said, "even your 'me too' moment is still fresh in the minds of the people. It does not suit you to preach morality or speak on corruption of which you are the fountainhead."
Stating that Channi was resorting to falsehoods to deceive Punjabis, Mr Badal claimed: "the truth is that the CM controls the entire illegal sand mining operations in the Kharar-Ropar belt. This is not all. He is also the largest illegal colonizer in the state".
The SAD president also asked the chief minister to first implement the promises made by him. "Where is the sand which people were supposed to get at Rs 5.50 per cubic feet? Why are consumers still receiving bills without the reduction of Rs 3 per unit which was announced by you?," he asked.
When queried about Transport minister Amarinder Singh Raja Warring claiming that he had forced the transport company owned by the Badal family to cough up Rs 14 crore in taxes, the SAD president said this was an outright lie. "I challenge Raja Warring to show receipts to this effect. Forget Rs 14 crore, I challenge him to show receipts of even Rs 10crore or even Rs 5 crore which had been recovered from any transport company owned by our family".
Announcing to establish a separate ministry of Kandi Area Development once the SAD-BSP government would be formed in the state, Badal also said that the next government would also come out with a special policy to incentivize industry in the Kandi belt.
