Troubles are pouring for the Congress party in Punjab. In the latest — within 24 hours the party announced Hardev Singh laddi as its candidate for ensuing Shahkot assembly bypoll, he was booked in a mining case.
The party is already struggling to appease its disgruntled MlAs over the Cabinet expansion exercise, besides the opposition by leaders in Shahkot constituency over candidature of laddi — who was already facing allegations of mining following his 13-minute ‘sting operation’, demanding his share in illegal mining, went viral.
Amidst the demanding of a “non-controversial” candidate, the party high command, a day before, declared laddi as its candidate for the crucial bypoll, reportedly in the insistence of the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.
However, the latest developments have given rise to speculations of changing the candidate — which, as of now, the party leaders have denied. As of now, the nomination process for the bypoll is going on till May 10.
Coming as major setback to the ruling Congress party, a case has been registered against laddi and three others for their alleged involvement in illegal mining activities at Mehatpur police station falling under Jalandhar rural police under Section 21 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act and the Section 379 of the Indian Penal Code.
Complainant in the matter is Brick Kiln labourers Union (CPIM) general secretary Mohan Singh who alleged that the contractor and the “Congress’ halqa in-charge laddi” had been digging-up even the panchayat land in Kaimwala village for mining purposes on war footing.
Mohan, in his complaint, stated that the illegal mining was also being carried out by the two in Raipur Gujjran, Gauswal, Chholia, Baloki, Burhewal, Khurlapur, Chak Bahmanian, Pipli Mehni, Umarwal Bila and Gag Dhagara villages, and the digging was also being carried out day and night in violation of labour rights.
The complaint said that the four accused were also working on an illegal quarry in Gatti Jatta village at Dharamkot in Moga.
Describing it a “political conspiracy” to defame him, laddi said: “lodging an FIR at about 4.30 in the morning clearly indicate that the new SHO, who was posted here two days back by the Election Commission, is working at the behest of the Akalis.”
Notably, the FIR was registered at 4.26 am by Mehatpur SHO Parminder Singh Bajwa after a complaint reached him via District Election Officer, Returning Officer, DIG (Jalandhar Range) and SSP (Jalandhar Rural).
SHO’s FlIP-FlOP OVER RESIGNATION
Transferred just about two days back on the election panel’s orders, Mehatpur SHO Parminder Singh Bajwa did a flip-flop over his resignation after he registered a case against Congress candidate Hardev Singh laddi.
Bajwa, after registering an FIR against laddi and three others at 4.26 am for their alleged involvement in illegal mining, resigned from his post and left his office at 9.45 am going incommunicado — only to withdraw the same hours later. “The resignation has been withdrawn as the cop has pointed that he was under stress owing to family issues…he may proceed on leave and we would ask the Election Commission to send his replacement,” the Punjab police spokesperson told The Pioneer.
At the same time, the spokesperson made it clear that the FIR, registered by the SHO, stays and stand valid, and police would act on the same.
Bajwa, in his resignation, addressed to SSP (Jalandhar Rural) Gurpreet Bhullar, wrote, “Respected sir, I know you are under pressure of sitting government. Please accept my resignation or count me absent from today 4-5-2018 at 9.45 am.”
later in the evening, Jalandhar Rural SSP Gurpreet Singh Bhullar held a press conference and maintained that the SHO had “committed a faux paus by lodging an FIR”.
He said: “The ECI orders were only to look into the complaint and not register an FIR. Even the 24-hour time period to process the complaint would have been over in the evening today but the SHO seemed to be in some kind of a hurry.”
On the SHO’s resignation, Bhullar said that he has neither received the resignation nor its withdrawal.
“The SHO has just sought a three-day leave since he said that he was suffering from high BP. We have granted him a two-day leave. I have ordered an inquiry into his indiscipline with SP (D) Balkar Singh,” said BHullar.
On the Complaint regarding illegal mining, Shahkot DSP Dilbagh Singh will do the inquiry, said Bhullar.