Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
India

AAP minister involved in illegal mining in Punjab: Akali Dal

Darpan News Desk IANS, 11 Dec, 2023 04:11 PM
  • AAP minister involved in illegal mining in Punjab: Akali Dal

Chandigarh, Dec 11 (IANS) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Majithia on Monday demanded a high court monitored inquiry or a CBI probe into the multi-hundred crore illegal mining allegedly being done in Ropar by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) minister Harjot Bains in the name of desilting.

In a statement here, the SAD leader said despite the fact that desilting had been banned in the 2023 mining policy of the AAP government; massive desilting works were being carried out with heavy machinery to mine sand in Chandpura village in Anandpur Sahib tehsil currently.

"Even protests from villagers have not had any effect on either the mining department or the district police because the miners enjoy government patronage."

Asserting that large-scale illegal mining was being carried out in other parts of Ropar district by the minister and his associates, Majithia said simultaneously illegal mining was being converted into legal mining by imposing a fee of Rs 6 per cubic feet.

He said by doing this the AAP government was legalising sand which was being illegally quarried in areas where legal quarries had not been sanctioned.

"Such acts have made Punjab the virtual virgin island for illegal smugglers with no questions being asked whether material is coming from the state or outside," he added.

Asserting that this was sheer loot of the state exchequer, Majithia said "the entire AAP party from top to bottom is responsible for this as money procured from illegal mining is being used to fill the coffers of party leaders as well as bankroll the election campaign of the party in other states".

He said only an independent probe could establish the money trail from Punjab to Delhi and bring the guilty to book.

MORE India ARTICLES

Punjab CM to boycott inaugural ceremony of new Parliament

Punjab CM to boycott inaugural ceremony of new Parliament
Slamming the Union government for demeaning the position of President of the country by not inviting her to the inaugural ceremony of new Parliament, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said he would not attend the function slated to be held on May 28. 

Punjab CM to boycott inaugural ceremony of new Parliament

Rajya Sabha MP Sahney helps bring 15 stranded Indian women back from Oman

Rajya Sabha MP Sahney helps bring 15 stranded Indian women back from Oman
Eight more women were reunited with their families hailing from Punjab on Wednesday after they landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi from Oman. Seven women were rescued last week under the initiative #Mission Hope, taking the total figures to 15. 

Rajya Sabha MP Sahney helps bring 15 stranded Indian women back from Oman

Hardeep Puri slams Congress for criticising inauguration of new Parliament building

Hardeep Puri slams Congress for criticising inauguration of new Parliament building
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday slammed the Congress for criticising the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28. Puri's remarks come amid a war of words between the Congress and BJP over the inauguration of the new Parliament House.

Hardeep Puri slams Congress for criticising inauguration of new Parliament building

PM Modi meets prominent Australian figures

PM Modi meets prominent Australian figures
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in a tweet, said, "Professor Brian P Schmidt of Australian National University met PM Narendra Modi in Sydney. He praised India's strides in research and science. He says India's ability to do world-class science has become an order of magnitude higher."

PM Modi meets prominent Australian figures

Proclaimed offender of Punjab sacrilege cases held in Bengaluru

Proclaimed offender of Punjab sacrilege cases held in Bengaluru
Proclaimed offender of the highly sensitive 2015 Bargari sacrilege cases in Punjab, Sandeep Bareta, was arrested from the Bengaluru airport on Tuesday, police said.  A lookout notice issued against him by Punjab Police.

Proclaimed offender of Punjab sacrilege cases held in Bengaluru

As Punjab increases river water supply to Rajasthan, Akali Dal to stage protest

As Punjab increases river water supply to Rajasthan, Akali Dal to stage protest
With Punjab increasing river water supply to Rajasthan by 500 cusecs, the Shiromani Akali Dal said it would stage a protest in Abohar on Wednesday against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's "surrender on river waters".  Party President Sukhbir Badal will lead the protest that will begin at 11 a.m.

As Punjab increases river water supply to Rajasthan, Akali Dal to stage protest