In the line of fire after druglord Jagdish Bhola named Punjab Cabinet Minister Bikram Majithia as ‘kingpin’ of multi-crore drug racket, the demand for his arrest and an independent probe into the matter was gaining momentum.
While the SAD president and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal has dismissed all allegations, the Opposition has intensified its attack pressing for an investigation by the Central Investigating Agency or the sitting High Court judge. Sukhbir on Tuesday said that wild allegations made by a notorious drug lord recently were part of a “diversionary move scripted by Pradesh Congress president Partap Bajwa to take the mind of the people away from the ongoing spree of resignations tendered by senior Congress leaders” threatening his leadership.
Sukhbir, answering a media query regarding Bhola's allegations after dedicating Punjab Olympic Bhawan at Mohali, said, “Eradication of drugs is our top priority as we are committed to end this menace in the State.” “If any criminal or mentally imbalanced person accused Rahul Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi of being involved in criminal activities, will Punjab Congress demand a probe from CBI or any other central agency into the allegationsIJ” he questioned.
The Congress had already demanded Majithia’s expulsion from the State Cabinet along with registration of criminal case and his ‘immediate’ arrest. It has also all along been insisting on handing over the drug racket probe to the premier investigating agency. Former DSP Bhola had also accused the Punjab Police for demanding Rs 25 crore as bribe to hush up the matter, besides going soft on him after Majithia called them. Earlier, on December 20, Bhola had disclosed the involvement of three Akali Ministers — one each from Majha, Doaba and Malwa.
Intensifying its attack, the Congress has decided to take their protest to the streets by laying siege to Majithia in his home constituency, and launching jail bharo andolan in case the Revenue Minister was not arrested.
“It is clear that Sukhbir in his capacity as Home Minister is creating hurdles and putting pressure on the police to save his brother-in-law. It is pertinent for the CM to dismiss both Sukhbir and Majithia from the Cabinet for a free and impartial inquiry, said Congress spokesperson Sukhpal Khaira. Strongly reiterating that nothing short of a CBI probe would satisfy the people, Khaira said if Sukhbir did not have faith in the CBI, “he can conduct probe into the drug haul by the sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.”