By Charandeep Singh
CHANDIGARH: There seems to be a criminal conspiracy to hush up the narco-terrorism racket by the ruling powers as the name of Punjab revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia was not mentioned in the challan presented by Enforcement Directorate, in the infamous “Bhola International Drug Case” in the Patiala Court.
Although Bikram Majithia, was questioned by ED on 26th December ’2014, which is investigating the the multi-crore international drugs racket. There were reports coming in that Majithia, would be called for questioning the second time, but the dropping of his name all together has taken everyone by surprise, and have set the tongues wagging.
Actually, ED not naming Bikram Majithia in challan is an indicator of changed political equation. The results of the J&K elections, where the BJP failed to make a cut in the valley, [amongst minorities], were an eye-opener. The cultivated secular credentials were severely dented. So it became imperative for the BJP to hang on with their coalition partner if they are to romp up victory in next assembly elections in Punjab, which are staring just two years down the line. Internal surveys of BJP have indicated not even a marginal growth in its acceptance amongst the “rural sikh peasantry” of Punjab, which is the core vote bank of Akali Dal and constitutes about 60% of the total electorate. Indictment of Majithia in the challan would have meant breakdown of alliance.
Majithia has been in trouble ever-since former Punjab cop and Arjuna award-winning wrestler Jagdish Bhola, in his 19-page statement, allegedly told the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia is the 'kingpin' of the Rs 5, 000 crore international drug racket. As per reports, the three main accused persons namely Jagdish Bhola, Bittu Aulakh and Jagjit Chahal, in their statements recorded before the ED under section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, have named Bikram Majithia as a major connection with Canada based drug dealers Satpreet Satta and Parbinder Singh alias Pindi. Bhola further even mentioned that the money from narcotics trade was even used for “funding elections”. It was further alleged, that Satpreet Satta was even an election agent of Bikram Majithia in 2007 elections.
Bikram Majithia, during his questioning by Enforcement Directorate, was asked 31 questions in a 24-page written statement. He was asked to furnish details of his residential and commercial properties between 2007 and 2014. The minister was also asked to submit details of his investments and shares in companies run by his family in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.But apart from Bikram Majithia, Sarwan Singh Phillaur ex-cabinet minister and his son Damanvir were also summoned by ED. Just on the basis being quizzed by ED, Phillaur was made to resign from Cabinet to present the facade of high moral ground. But then why a different yardstick for Bikram Majithia? Why Majithia is still member of the cabinet?
But soon after his questioning a game of political brinkmanship erupted between the Akali Dal and BJP in Punjab. A pointer to this was the rally against BSF by the Akali Dal on the border towns of Fazilka, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur and Amritsar on 5th January, holding BSF responsible for the drug smuggling in the state. Through this, they wanted to establish the fact that the root of the problem lies on the border and the problem of drugs is not an internal issue. These rallies were held to over- shadow BJP president Amit Shah’s “anti-drug campaign”, scheduled to be launched in Amritsar on January 12.
Then reference by Prime Minister, in “Mann Ki Baat” programme where he mentioned that, 73.5 per cent of the entire young population of Punjab is addicted to drugs, didn’t go down well with the Akali leadership. As a confutation to the remarks of PM, the Dy. CM declared that there was "no drug production" in Punjab. "Not even a gram of any drug is produced in Punjab and it is either coming from across the border or from BJP ruled states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, where there is rampant cultivation of poppy husk”.
Furthermore, in a clear attempt to browbeat the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials who are investigating the multi-crore Bhola drug racket, the Punjab Police CID unit in “retaliation” asked the four ED officials involved in doing ground level investigations to furnish details of properties and assets relating to them and their families. Though the top-brass of ED was later mollified by telling them that the phone-number of ED sleuths came under surveillance in routine manner, with no arm- twisting overtures attached. Then, in mid-January the investigating officer (IO) of this case who interrogated Majithia was suddenly transferred to Kolkata. The abrupt manner of his transfer raised many eyebrows. Ultimately Pb. and Haryana High Court had to intervene to put a stay on his transfer.
It may also be pertinent to mention here that some observers are of the opinion, that even the probe by the ED is camouflaged. The ED is not investigating the drug racket as their probe is limited to the money laundering. The ED had summoned Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia and other politicians under Prevention of Money Laundering Act. But then why is government dithering on a CBI probe? Even if not CBI, NCB[Narcotics Control Bureau] can act as supplementary agency with ED probing money laundering and NCB probing narcotics angle.
As things stand today, Bikram Majithia is a master strategist for Akali Dal as he is touted to be the head-honcho of the requisite man-power, money-power and musle-power required to capture the elections. Thus, he is indispensable to the ruling dispensation. Euphoric over the non-inclusion of Bikram Majithia’s name in the challan filed, Akalis have declared a clean chit by ED. When approached the Assistant Director, Jalandhar, Niranjan Singh, who is probing the Bhola case, asked: “Where is the chit?” there-by, simply rebutting the tall claims of Akali leadership. In reality ED, is more likely to be used as a pawn by central BJP leadership to tame down the antagonistic posturing of the Akali leadership in days to come.
Retorting to these unsubstantiated allegations, Majithia says, “When last summoned by the ED I presented myself for questioning despite the short notice. However I would like to point out that there has been an inordinate delay in investigation. In this case investigations have already carried on for one and a half years. Will investigations be carried out for eternity? In the two complaints filed after thorough investigations there is not a whisper against me”.