The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Saturday demanded a CBI enquiry into the procedural lapses which had allowed Congress leaders to take over the May 22 sand mining auctions in the State, saying the cancellation of the second phase of this exercise proved this beyond doubt.
The SAD said the CBI enquiry should focus on procedural lapses as well as the key people, including finance minister Manpreet Badal and mining department officials, who were responsible for making the new policy and conduct of the May 21 auction.
In a statement, senior SAD leader Prem Singh Chandumajra said it was clear that officials had turned a blind eye to proxy acquisition of sand mines by senior Congress leaders and ministers.
“It needs to be ascertained as to who had instructed them to allow proxy bidding by cooks and employees of Irrigation and Power minister Rana Gurjit Singh as well as a single bid by 17 Congress legislators”.
Chandumajra also termed the cancellation of the auction of the remaining 55 mines scheduled for Sunday as a farce, saying if the government was interested in a free and fair exercise it should cancel the May 21 auction also. He said it was only after the SAD had raised its voice against the illegalities committed in the first auction that the government was now insisting that the bidders submit proper documentation. “Why wasn’t this done earlierIJ Isn’t it clear that the earlier auction was rigged to help Congress leaders acquire the mines IJ Why isn’t the entire process being cancelled instead of one part only IJ, he asked.
The Akali leader said the SAD would take the issue to the people and force the Government to cancel the auction forthwith.
He also announced that SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal would participate in the dharnas being organised on May 12 against the mining scam in Gurdaspur district.
The MP said the party would also raise this issue in the Vidhan Sabha and demand the immediate sacking of Rana Gurjit.
He said the party would also haul up the Congress government for increase in farmer suicides, giving sham relief to farmers on karja kurki (attachment of properties) and failing to curb the rise in incidents of sacrilege. “Never has a government lost complete faith of the people so soon after being installed”, he said adding the injustice to farmers who were still waiting for complete loan waiver and oppression of Dalits would also be highlighted in the assembly.
GOVT CANCElS AUCTION
A day before, the Punjab Government cancelled e-Auction notification for 56 mines to be held on Sunday.
A spokesman said as per the requisite conditions of the tender document, the prospective bidders were required to upload documents and other details. During the scrutiny process, it came to the notice that nearly 2/3 bidders have not submitted the requite details as per the conditions laid down in the tender document.
“In the interest of wider competition/participation and fair play it was not deemed appropriate to ignore such a substantial number of prospective bidders. Hence after due consideration, it has been decided to withdraw the notification in the interest of wider competition,” the spokesman added.
The spokesman said after requisite steps, fresh tender notice will be issued shortly.