AMRITSAR: Former minister Bikram Singh Majithia today said the prompt action ordered against Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal by the State DGP at the instance of the mining mafia proved that the mafia was being patronized by chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh.
Talking to media persons at Majithia in Amritsar, Mr Bikram Majithia said it was shocking that instead of taking firm action against the mining mafia, the State DGP had ordered action against the SAD president and other leaders who had exposed large scale illegal mining being done at Beas. “This proves that the real kingpins of the mining mafia of Punjab are sitting in the Punjab Secretariat as well as the AICC in Delhi”.
The SAD leader said truck drivers present at the spot had complained to the police that a ‘goonda tax’ of Rs 16, 000 per truck was being levied from them forcefully.
“Even the panchayat members of the village, who are the real owners of the land, complained to the police that their permission was not taken before the mining mafia led by Mohal Pal, the brother in law of Congress legislator Sukhpal Bhullar , and Jammu based mafia kingpin Rakesh Chaudhary started digging out sand from the area”, he said
Mr Majithia said this was not all. “It has also been conclusively proven that National Green Tribunal norms were violated by the sand mafia and that they were mining sand from running water which was also illegal”.
He said despite all these proofs against the mafia kingpins including Rajasthan based Ashok Chandok, no action was taken against the mafia members. “Instead the government is indulging in a cover up exercise which explains the long tentacles of the mafia which is immune to law and has been given a free license to loot the State treasury at will”.
Mr Majithia made it clear that the SAD would not be cowed down by such tactics. “We will continue to ‘gherao’ all those who are indulging in illegal mining. We will continue to expose them to protect the interests of the State”.
Earlier Bikramjit Singh Majithia addressing the rally which was organized by Shiromani Akali Dal in protest against the power cut at Majitha.