Punjab News Express/Satinder Bains
CHANDIGARH: The statement by Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh showing his inability to act agaisnt former SAD minister Bikram Singh Majithia for his alleged involvement in drug racket has led to political storm in the state and also dismayed the Congress Ministers and MLA's demanding to put Majithia in Jail.
Atleast 40 Congress MLAs had petitioned Chief Minister to take action against Majithia who was 'king pin' of the synthetic drug racket in Punjab. This was also one of the election promises of Congress party. Even Capt Amarinder Singh was vocal on the issue and told people he would put Majitjhia behind bars and also promised to eliminate drug mafia in a month's time. Nothing of the sort has happened so far which is causing unrest in the party and people of state feel betrayed by Congress leadership who voted for them in the hope drugs would be wiped out from state.
Local bodies and tourism minister Navjot Sidhu had also made public announcements before and after the assembly election to put Sukhbir Badal and Bikram Majithia behind bars for their misdeeds including the for patronising drug mafia. The reluctance of Capt Amarinder Singh to take firm action against SAD leaders allegedly involved in drug racket might be Capt Amarinder's family relations with Majithia family.
Capt Amarinder Singh at a prerss meet in Jalandhar on Thursday said that he knew Majithia and other Akali leaders were involved in drug racket but he cant take action in the absence of any evidence. The comments of Capt Amarinder were shocking and unfortunate.There is lot of evidence available against Majithia. Chief Minister says already central agencies were investigating against Majithia and nothing concrete has came out.
It is recalled that Majithia is named in a drug case registered by Enforcement Directorate (ED) and he was also called for questioning. There are confessional statements by some fo the accused interogated by ED where name of Majithia had figured. Jagdish Bhola dusmissed DSP of Punjab Police who was arrested for running a drug racket had publically stated that Bikram Majithia was kingpin of drug racket in Punjab. Punjab Police had closed the further investigation into confessionakl statement of Bhola. Even the Amritsar based industrialist Jagjit Chahal arrested for connving with Bhola and NRI drug lords had named Majithia. Punjab Police had never called two NRI drug smugglers of Majithia who stayed at his residence.
The question arises what is hinderance for ordering fresh probe by Vigilance department of Special Task Force on drugs to probe the charges levelled by Bhola and other accused in drug cases. As leader of opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira has put it that if Capt Amarinder would order a probe into drug racket, evidence would surface. How can CM say that there no evidence without any inquiry into the matter.
The sale of synthetic and organic drugs was going on in Punjab without any check. The STF formed by Capt Amarinder Singh is not making any headway to act against big fish due to lcak of support from Congress government. Congress had made drugs a major election issue blaming Akalis for the drug menace and surprisingly not even a single Akali leader is arrested in any drug case.
In July last Inderjit Singh a police inspector of Punjab Police was arrested by STF and it was claimed that he helped many drug smugglers to escape long hands of law. He was also allegedly enjoying political patronage from senior ministers in SAD-BJP government. STF had desribed him a big catch but the case was pushed under the carpet without any further investigation. Nobody knows who were the SAD leaders supporting Inderjit Singh and who were the smuglers who were let off either by Police or by courts due to lack of evidence.
Capt Amarinder Singh must come clean on the drug issue and act firmly against drug mafia. People of Punjab expect him to live up to his reputation of good administrator and not working under pressure by SAD leaders. Capt Amarinder Singh has given an opportunity to opposition parties(not Akalis) to raise accusing fingers on him and his government.