Demanding registration of a criminal case against Punjab Cabinet Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu for allegedly “misusing” his official position to root farmers to illegally enrich his family in a change of land use (CLU) case, Shiromani Akali Dal on Monday said that a CBI probe was needed to uncover “illegal” acts of the Congress leader which caused a huge loss to the State exchequer as well.

“FIR should be registered against Balbir Sidhu for converting agricultural land into industrial and residential land in a completely illegal, arbitrary and malafide manner. The minister has not only cheated farmers but has also looted the State exchequer by misusing his official power to change the land use of agricultural land into commercial category without complying with the procedure prescribed in the Act,” said SAD president Sukhbir Badal.

Sukhbir said that an additional corruption case should also be slapped against the Congress Minister for his illegal acts.

Giving details of the case, Sukhbir said that the entire exercise of changing the land use of Manakpur Kalar village from agricultural to industrial zone was done only in malafide manner to give benefit to Sidhu’s brother.

“Land measuring around 68 acres of Manakpur Kalar village was purchased by a firm, Chester Infrastructure Associates, in which the Minister’s brother Amarjit Singh Sidhu is a partner,” he said adding that the Minister exercised his influence over the Town Planning Board to get the status of this piece of agricultural land changed to industrial land to ensure illegal financial gain to his brother at the cost of farmers as well as the State.

Stating that the land could have been acquired directly from the farmers by the State in case its land use was to be changed, Sukhbir said that instead of allowing the State to do its job, the Congress Minister “hoodwinked” the farmers and the State Administration to maximize his profits in the deal.

“Town Planning Board, in its 34th meeting held on February 22, 2018, agreed that the agriculture land of village Manakapur Kalar along with the agriculture land of village Kurra and Sekhan Majra be changed from agriculture to residential zone. A public notice was issued for the same on April 12, 2018,” he pointed adding that in a similar manner, Banur’s Master Plan was amended to alter the change of land use of Tangori village from agriculture to a residential zone.

Asking the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to immediately take stern action against the Congress Minister for “this big land fraud”, Sukhbir said that it shows that all mafias — land, sand, and liquor — were being run in the State with the open patronage of Congress Ministers and leaders.

“Sidhu must be taken to task for his corrupt practices by being dismissed instantly besides being probed for his illegal acts,” said Sukhbir while announcing that SAD would stand by the farmers and assist them in ensuring justice is done in the case.

SUKHBIR TO LEAD DHARNAS IN PATIALA AND MOGA ON DEC 21, 24

As a part of the party’s state-wide series of protests against lawlessness, police atrocities, illegal mining, persecution of Dalits and other issues that are currently afflicting Punjab, SAD president Sukhbir Badal will lead dharnas to be held at Patiala and Moga on December 21 and 24 respectively.

“There is complete lawlessness in the state as the Congress Ministers and leaders are busy in patronizing notorious gangsters. People’s life and property have become totally unsafe as political murders are being committed in broad daylight. There is a complete Jungle Raj in the state,” said the political secretary to SAD president Charanjit Singh Brar.

He said that the party president would lead a dharna on December 21 at 1 pm in Patiala to demand the restoration of rule of law.

Brar added that SAD had started a series of state-wide protests against persecution of Dalits, illegal mining and police atrocities and the SAD president was leading this battle against Congress oppression right from the front.

Another dharna will be held at Moga on December 24 at 1 pm under Sukhbir’s leadership to expose the failures of the Congress Government.

“A party meeting will be held at Sri Mukatsar Sahib on December 22 to discuss preparations for the Maghi conference. Apart from exposing the State Government’s failure in implementing its poll promises, a strategy to uncover the Congress’s anti-Sikh and anti-Punjab policies would be finalized in the meeting,” he added.