Thakur questions Sukhu over arrest of crusher owners

Shimla: Former chief minister and leader of opposition Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday questioned chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu over the arrest of two crusher owners by the directorate of enforcement (ED).
The arrested accused were allegedly operating in the Sukhu’s assembly constituency of Nadaun.
The ED had on Monday arrested Gian Chand and Sanjay Dhiman for alleged illegal mining in the Beas river in Himachal Pradesh and Yamuna river in Saharanpur of Uttar Pradesh.
“Why was the govt kind to the arrested crusher owners during the calamity? Is it true that the arrested crusher owner accompanied the CM to his office in his car? When all the crushers in the Beas basin were closed, the crushers were running by coincidence or by the govt’s favour?” questioned the leader of the opposition. Thakur requested the chief minister to answer these questions honestly to the public. The ED had come into action in the case after receiving formal complaints and intelligence inputs alleging illegal sand and mineral mining operations in the river bed of the Beas river by mining mafia, including Gian Chand, and proceeds of crime to the tune of hundreds of crores being generated through these illegal mining operations.
The ED initiated the probe on the basis of six FIRs registered by different police stations in districts of Kangra and Una in Himachal Pradesh relating to illegal mining. The former CM sought to know about the chief minister’s relationship with the arrested crusher owners stating that this question is related to the Sukhu’s personal reputation. Thakur said since Day 1 the BJP had been pointing out that corruption was prevalent in the state and the mining mafia was flourishing under the govt’s protection. What was being laughed at by the close ones of the govt and the current CM, today it proved to be true, claimed the BJP leader.