SAD-BJP to hold joint dharnas at DC office on June 9 to demand dismissal of Rana Gurjit

Joint delegation to meet Governor to demand CBI probe and handing over sand mining scam to ED and IT authorities
Jalandhar, June 3, 2017: The SAD- BJP joint core committees' today decided to hold joint dharnas at district headquarters on June 9 to demand the immediate dismissal of Irrigation and Power minister Rana Gurjit Singh besides submitting a memorandum to the Punjab Governor on June 14 demanding handing over investigation into the sand scam to the CBI as well as Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax authorities.

A joint meeting of the core committees of both the SAD and the BJP which was presided over by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and BJP State president and union minister Vijay Sampla, announced that the joint SAD- BJP dharnas would be held between 11 am and 2 pm in front of offices of deputy commissioners on June 9.

Terming the sand auctions taken by servants and employees of Rana Gurjit as an open and shut case, the joint meeting opined that instead of taking action and dismissing Rana immediately from the cabinet, the government had started a cover up exercise. The joint meeting rejected the Justice J S Narang commission formed by the government to look into the issue, saying the terms of reference of the Commission were aimed at giving a clean chit to Rana. The meeting also brought on record the fact that Justice Narang and Rana Gurjit were close friends, a fact which had not been denied by either of her two or even the government.

Later briefing newsmen about the meeting, the SAD president said the SAD- BJP alliance would expose the dirty deals of other Congress legislators also. "As many as 17 legislators made a single bid for a sand mine which indicates the entire process was tailor made to transfer all mining sites to Congressmen".

Mr Badal also announced along with Mr Sampla that a joint delegation of the SAD-BJP including its core committees, MPs and mlas would call on Governor VP Singh Badnore and demand that the sand scam be probed by the CBI as well and ED and IT departments.

The SAD president also announced that the district level agitation would also take up burning issues of Punjab including the failure of the government to waive farmer loans immediately. He said the government should announce a complete farm loan waiver during the pendency of the current session itself as this was the only way to stop the waive of farmer suicides which had swept the State.

BJP President Vijay Sampla spoke at length about the spate of Dalit atrocities occurring in the State. He said though the SAD-BJP had highlighted this issue jointly also, the government had failed to take any action in the matter because Congress goons were behind all such incidents. He also highlighted how political repression was also being committed by Congress leaders against SAD-BJP cadre. He said this would not be tolerated and would be resisted jointly.

The SAD president also highlighted the increase in incidents of sacrilege ever since the new government came into office. He said the government was now making excuses for its failure to stop the sacrilege incidents as well as expose those behind them. He also said the dharnas would highlight the increase in goondaism as well as dacoities and gang war warfare occurring in the State besides even the resurgence of terrorist activities. "We will put the two and a half months performance of the government before the people and also expose them in the forthcoming Vidhan Sabha session also", he added.

The joint core committee meeting was attended by Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Balwinder Singh Bhundur, Prem Singh Chandumajra, Sucha Singh Langah, Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Ajit Singh Kohar, Gulzar Singh Ranike, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Upinderjit Kaur, Baldev Singh Mann, Sharanjit Dhillon, Dr Daljeet Cheema, Charanjit Singh Atwal, Bikram Singh Majithia, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Manjit Singh GK, Avtar Hit and Hari Singh Zira from the SAD. Those attending the meeting from the BJP included Dr Anil Jain, Dinesh, Manoranjan Kalia, Tarun Chugh, Madan Mohan Mittal, Kamal Sharma, Rajinder Bhandari, Ashwani Sharma and Vineet Joshi.