The ghost of drugs on Thursday came haunting the Punjab politics with the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh assuring the Vidhan Sabha that a thorough investigation would be held into the drugs nexus of former SSB member Anwar Masih, who was recently arrested by the Special Task Force in a drug case, with political leaders.
The assurance came after the Congress MLA Kulbir Singh Zira flashed some documents and photographs to allege that Anwar Masih, caught by the STF on drugs in Rs 1000 crore drug recovery case, was a close associate of SAD MLA Bikram Majithia.
Joining in, the Leader of Opposition and AAP MLA Harpal Singh Cheema also demanded investigations into Majithia’s alleged role into the case, besides other political bigwigs.
Notably, the Punjab Police STF on drugs, a day before, arrested former Subordinate Services Board (SSB) member Anwar Masih in connection with the massive heroin haul, weighing 197 kgs, from his house in Sultanwind village on January 31. He was booked under the NDPS Act, and was remanded to two days’ police custody.
Taking serious note of the allegations, the Chief Minister maintained that all the documents or materials, shown or displayed by the members, would be forwarded to the STF for detailed investigations into the drugs network, launched in the wake of the seizures made from the house of Masih, an Akali leader.
The Chief Minister assured the House that a detailed inquiry would be conducted and the report in this regard would be forwarded to the competent authority.
At the same time, the Chief Minister made it clear that anyone suspected to be involved in the drug racket would be thoroughly probed to ascertain their links.
“The entire network would be unraveled to ensure that all those involved in the drugs racket were pinned down and action taken against them as per the law,” he added.
Earlier, Zira demanded an extensive probe to find why he was made SSB member and on whose recommendation and appropriate action should be taken.
Demanding to nab the “black sheep” in the political circles, he openly demanded that Majithia should also be put behind bars on whose recommendation Masih was appointed SSB member.
In sync with Zira’s demand, Cheema too asked the Government to investigate “Majithia's role” in Masih drug haul.
Cheema alleged that the multi-crore drug haul, involving the Akali leader Anwar Masih and councilor, had links with the political bigwigs.
“Whether the Chief Minister would give an assurance that he would investigate the role of Bikram Singh Majithia in the drug haul,” he asked after which the Chief Minister made the statement.
MASIH IS CONG LEADER, INQUIRE INTO CONG LINKS WITH DRUG MAFIA: SAD TO CM
Under attack, SAD MLA Bikram Majithia furnished photographs and documents to claim that Anwar Masih was a “Congress man”, and the Chief Minister should take into account detailed evidence of the involvement of Congress leaders in Amritsar heroin seizure case as well as drug trafficking in the State.
Majithia, at the same time, welcomed the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s statement in the Vidhan Sabha that he would order an inquiry into the political connections of Christian Dalit Front leader Anwar Masih.
“Masih’s close connection with the Congress and the support extended to the party by Anwar and Christian Front President Munawar Masih in 2017 assembly elections, 2018 Gurdaspur Lok Sabha by-election contested by Pradesh Congress president Sunil Jakhar as well as 2019 parliamentary elections were a matter of record. It is a fact that Munawar Masih was the only person whose term as Minorities Commission chairman was extended by three years by the Congress Government after being reappointed,” said Majithia while showing pictures of Munawar and Anwar Masih with Cabinet Minister Sukhjinder Randhawa in 2019 and advertisements alongside senior Congress leaders to claim that both of them are Congressmen.
Demanding a detailed inquiry into political connections of those associated with Amritsar heroin seizure case, Majithia said that the kingpin in the case – Simarjit Singh Sandhu — was the son of Sarabjit Singh Sandhu who was appointed Member of the Subordinate Services Selection Board in 2006 during Congress Government tenure.
“Simarjit Sandhu’s association with the Congress party should be investigated and all Congressmen associated with him should be exposed and booked,” he demanded while speaking with the media outside the Assembly.
Majithia also condemned photo-dramas being enacted in the assembly to divert the people’s attention from the power hike and power scams, farmer suicides, and the Congress Government’s failure to provide jobs to the youth.