Chandigarh, June 23: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday demanded a court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the assault on Rupnagar MLA Amarjit Singh Sandoa by mining mafia in the state.
“Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had promised to put an end to illegal mining, but has miserably failed. Illegal mining is rampant and the mafia has become brazen with no fear of the law. The attack on our MLA has totally exposed the state of affairs,” Punjab AAP co-president Balbir Singh said at a joint press conference with leader of opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira.
Balbir added there had been other cases of assault on officials and others by mining mafia, but the Congress government did not seem bothered about the deteriorating law and order in the state.
“If this is the plight of the elected representatives who are provided security, imagine what will be the fate of ordinary citizens,” he said, demanding a white paper from the state government on illegal sand mining in the state.
Khaira said the incident was a litmus test of the impartiality of the CM on, whether the government and police were here only to protect Congress leaders and workers or they could ensure safety of the life and liberty of opposition leaders and ordinary citizens.
He demanded immediate registration of an FIR under criminal sections, arrest of the guilty and also criminal action against those abetting such lawlessness.
He added he would convene an emergency meeting of party MLAs to discuss further course of action. Kanwar Sandhu, Sarbjit Kaur Manuke, Kultar Singh Sandhwan and Harpal Singh Cheema were among the MLAs present at the press conference.
Meanwhile, former Punjab minister Daljit Singh Cheema, who has successfully contested against Sandoa from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in the assembly elections, said, “I condemn the unfortunate incident. The allegations that Ajwinder (the accused) has levelled are also serious. A judicial inquiry should be conducted into the matter.”
Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia has also demanded strong action from Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh over attack on an AAP MLA in Punjab by the mining mafia.
“Our MLA from Punjab Amarjeet Singh Sandoa was attacked by the mining mafia today. Mining mafia is ruling in the Captain Amarinder Singh’s governance,” he said.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national spokesperson Ashish Khaitan said that Amarinder Singh should take strict action against the mining mafia in Punjab or resign.
