Punjab CM trying to shield the corrupt, says Jakhar

Chandigarh: Launching a scathing attack on the Punjab govt, state BJP president Sunil Jakhar on Friday accused the state govt of shielding corruption and defending individuals involved in alleged land-related scams currently under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Jakhar said the ED raids on ministers are not aimed at targeting private individuals, but are actions against those accused of grabbing farmers' land through fraudulent means. He claimed the investigations are focused on cases where land acquired from farmers at extremely low prices was later used to generate massive profits through illegal real-estate activities.In a statement issued here, the BJP leader said the issue is not limited to ministers personally, but concerns the alleged misuse of Change of Land Use (CLU) permissions to illegally convert and exploit agricultural land.Referring to the Mohali case, Jakhar alleged that associates close to one of the cabinet ministers were involved in irregularities concerning 30 acres of land in a project and skimming nearly ₹170 crore by undervaluing the property. He further alleged that in Ludhiana, another cabinet minister misused nearly 40 acres of land through fraudulent CLU approvals. Jakhar claimed that land originally allotted for industrial purposes was allegedly diverted for residential colonies. He argued that if industries were never established on the land, it should have reverted to the farmers instead of being commercially exploited for huge profits. According to him, the govt originally acquired the land from farmers at very low prices under the promise of industrial development.Attacking the chief minister, Jakhar said that if the govt was truly "kattar imandar," it would have acted against the alleged corruption itself instead of defending those involved. He accused the state leadership of portraying itself as helpless only after central agencies stepped in.Jakhar accused the chief minister of trying to shield associates by portraying them as victims. He questioned why corruption, once described by the CM as a "cancer," was now allegedly being protected by the same govt.MSID:: 130977320 413 |