Cheema challenges Congress, BJP on Rs 500cr CM post corruption claims

Chandigarh: Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema has slammed both Congress and the BJP high commands on Monday and challenged them to respond immediately to serious allegations of corruption levelled by Congress leader Navjot Kaur Sidhu.AAP reaction comes a day after Navjot Kaur Sidhu claimed that securing the chief minister's post in the state allegedly required a "Rs 500-crore suitcase". BJP state president Sunil Jakhar, who was earlier with the Congress, had also alleged that he had heard similar figures being demanded to secure the position in 2021.Cheema said, "I challenge the high commands of the Congress and the BJP. Why are you silent? Are you silent because you are complicit in this corruption? I challenge the Congress and BJP high commands to answer within 24 hours." He questioned why Jakhar remained silent while he was in the Congress, witnessing the selling of ministerial posts and assembly seats, and only spoke up after joining the BJP."Navjot Singh Sidhu, husband of Navjot Kaur Sidhu, has a long experience with both Congress and the BJP. When his wife makes these claims, it reveals what goes on in these parties," said Cheema.He referred to Navjot Kaur Sidhu's claim that the post of CM in the Congress govt was allegedly "sold" for Rs 500 crore. Cheema said it was estimated that the Congress chief ministers, over a rough calculation, might have spent Rs 2,000 crore, which in turn led to the looting of the people of Punjab to the tune of an estimated Rs 30,000 crore. "The character of the leaders of the parties that ruled Punjab from 1997 to 2022 is now being exposed by their own members," he said.