Citing ‘conflict of interest’, the Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday demanded from Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to change the portfolio of State Power Minister Rana Gurjeet Singh, a co-founder of Rana Sugar limited — the company which is selling electricity to the State power utility.
“Rana Gurjeet Singh is the co-founder of Rana Sugar limited and the company is selling electricity to Punjab State Power Corporation limited (PSPCl), so it is a clear case of conflict of interest. Being a minister, Rana Gurjeet is controlling PSPCl that is purchasing electricity from his own firm,” said the leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha HS Phoolka.
He said that Rana Sugar limited generates 34 megawatt (MW) electricity, out of which, 20 MW is being sold to PSPCl. Rana Gurjeet and his wife are the largest shareholders in the firm, he said.
Phoolka demanded that Rana Gurjeet’s portfolio must be changed immediately. “If Punjab government's plan to sell electricity to Pakistan works out, it will directly benefit private electricity producing firms in the state including Rana Sugar limited owned by the minister,” he said.
RANA GURJEET RUBBISHES AAP CHARGES OF ‘CONFlICT OF INTEREST’
Chandigarh: “If an agriculturist can become an agriculture minister, if a doctor can become a health minister or a lawyer can become a law minister, what is wrong if someone, who has expertise in producing power, becomes the power ministerIJ” asked Punjab Power and Irrigation Minister Rana Gurjeet Singh on Sunday while rubbishing AAP’s charges that his holding the power portfolio amounted to conflict of interest.
Responding to AAP leader HS Phoolka’s statement, the Minister pointed out that the agreement had been done long time ago during the Akali-BJP regime.
“Phoolka is a respected man and instead of shooting the breeze, he should explain as how my being power minister amounted to conflict of interest,” he said, while asking, “If a company in which I have stakes, is supplying power to the PSPCl in a transparent manner following all the norms and procedures and without my role or influence, should that be held against meIJ”
Asserting that there was no conflict of interest in his heading the Power Ministry, Rana assured Phoolka that within a year, he (Phoolka) and whole of Punjab will feel the difference in the power sector.
“I have knowledge and experience in the power sector and I will ensure to use this knowledge, experience and expertise for the benefit of the state and not for my personal interests,” he clarified, while adding that Phoolka was welcome to expose if there was any wrong doing on his part in supplying power to the PSPCl.