(Bhundur asks Rahul Gandhi to intervene to end mafia rule in Punjab)

Chandigarh, June 23 - The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)today asked the Congress government to explain why it was dispensing kangaroo justice by giving clean chits to its near and dear ones like that given to mining mafia accused and party legislator Hardev Laadi even as the common man was suffering from the scrouge of illegal mining at the hands of the sand mafia in Punjab. 

In a statement here, senior leader and party MP Balwinder Singh Bhundur said it was shocking that the Congress government had misused the State police to procure a clean chit for Hardev Laadi. He said the Jalandhar Rural police had recommended cancellation of the FIR registered against Laadi despite the existence of videographic evidence in the form of a sting which incriminates Laadi. “While this action had put a question mark on the functioning of the police force, it has also eroded the faith of the common man in the law and order machinery in the State”. 

Mr Bhundur said even more shocking was the fact that the courageous police officer - Inspector Parminder Bajwa - who had booked Laadi on the basis of several complaints as well as videographic evidence, remained under suspension. “If this isn’t kangaroo justice then what is “, he added. 

Mr Bhundur said the manner in which the clean chit was given to Laadi indicated that the Congress government did not want to proceed against the mining mafia. “It also gives the impression that the sand mafia is in league with Congress leaders and that’s why no action is taken against it”. 

The Rajya Sabha Mp said earlier also in a number of cases the State police had refused to take action against the mining mafia simply because of its proximity with Congress leaders. He said Patiala Mining department general manager T S Sekhon was thrashed by the mafia members as well as the police because he stopped a tipper of a close associate of the Congress Ghanaur MLA. The Akali leader said recently mafia members had become so bold that they had attacked and seriously injured two forest officials who had tried to stop their illegal activities. 

Mr Bhundur said now that the Congress government had made it clear that it would not proceed against the sand mafia, Congress president Rahul Gandhi should intervene and direct the Congress party to put an end to mafia rule in the State. Rahul should also direct the State leadership to take steps to reduce the high sand prices prevalent in the State to give relief to the common man. “If Rahul Gandhi does not intervene even now it will become clear that the entire Congress party has been compromised by the mafia”, he added.