हिंदी
Dr Daljit Singh Cheema welcomes court decision to direct CBI to inquire into illegal check points near mining sites in Ropar
Chandigarh, August 16 – The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today welcomed the verdict of the Punjab and Haryana high court ordering a CBI inquiry into the operation of illegal and unauthorized check points near mining sites in Ropar and urged it to extend the inquiry to the entire State saying ‘goonda tax’ was being levied by the sand mafia from across the State.
In a statement here, former minister Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said the high court had decided to order a CBI inquiry keeping in view the exceptional circumstances of the case. He said a report by the Ropar district legal services authority had nailed the lie of the Congress government that no ‘goonda tax’ was being collected in the district by the sand mafia. He said now it had been proved in court that the Punjab government had tried to mislead the court by stating that there were no illegal check points or barriers in Ropar, a wider inquiry was needed into the entire issue.
Dr Cheema said the sand mafia was not only looting the State treasury but was also causing an adverse impact on the environment. He said the State government was a mute spectator to this loot as Congress legislators were at the forefront of this racket.
The SAD leader said it was clear that government officials, particularly those belonging to the department of mines as well as police personnel, had failed to discharge their duties in accordance with provisions of the law. He said due action should be taken against all such officials. He also urged the high court to monitor sand mines in the State, saying rampant sand mining was occurring across the State.
