Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday demanded a probe into the purchase of 11 fire tenders by the state local Bodies Department, stating that the vehicles had started developing mechanical faults immediately after their flagging off by the minister in-charge Navjot Sidhu a day before.
Former Minister and SAD general secretary Bikram Majithia demanded the case of malfunctioning fire engines be handed over to an impartial inquiry commission to ensure a free and fair probe.
“The Commission should also hold a public hearing in the same manner in which Sidhu recently listened to Superintending Engineers of his department,” he demanded, adding that Sidhu can then explain to the inquiry commission in the presence of media as to why he “ordered sub-standard fire tenders which had developed snags immediately after being flagged off yesterday”.
Majithia said that it must be ascertained whether the fire tenders were genuinely newly manufactured machines or refurbished and repainted vehicles.
Demanding that an inquiry be instituted on this issue immediately, Majithia said that this was important because Sidhu had ordered eight more fire tenders whose delivery was expected next week.
“Utmost care must be taken not to accept faulty fire tenders,” he said adding that the Government and society could not take Sidhu's word on this issue.
Also pointing out that the presence of AAP legislator Aman Arora at Wednesday’s flagging off ceremony with Sidhu explained many things, Majithia said: “Everything is falling into place. The bonhomie between Sidhu and Arora makes it clear that AAP has become a B team of the Congress.”
“Earlier support extended to AAP by the Congress to help it form the government in Delhi and the reverse favour done by AAP by voting for Meira Kumar in the presidential polls could also be understood in this context,” he said.
Majithia said that in the light of such facts, one can never expect AAP to fight for granting of loan waiver to farmers or forcing the government to fulfil its promises made to the youth and disadvantaged. “That honour will fall to the SAD- BJP alliance and we will take the Congress to task for not fulfilling its promises,” he added.
