Punjab Ministers chef ’acquires’ sand mine for over Rs 26 crore

Mangalore Today News Network

Punjab, May 25 , 2017 : Punjab’s irrigation and power minister Rana Gurjit Singh is courting controversy for bidding and acquiring sand and gravel mines in the name of his cook and other office staff in Punjab.

 

The ministers cheif outbid 32 other players to acquire a Rs 26.51 crore mining site in Punjab. The SAD has demanded immediate sacking of the minister. Party MP Prem Singh Chandumajra said the case should be handed over to the enforcement directorate for investigation.

The Akali Dal says it would raise the issue in Parliament. “The Punjab government is answerable as to why it was letting cooks and employees of Rana Gurjit, who were paid a couple of thousand as salary, to participate and win auctions by submitting bids of Rs 50 crore. This amounts to encouraging benaami bids through hawala transactions which are even a threat to national security,” he said.

Stating that the entire auction was an eye wash and reminiscent of Congress deceit and doubles standards, Chandumajra said it was condemnable that the state apparatus was used to further the business interests of the Congress minister.

If Capt Amarinder Singh had taken due note of the conflict of interest issues of Rana Gurjit, the minister would not have become emboldened enough to acquire sand mines in the name of his employees, including his Nepalese servant, he added.

He said earlier the CM had failed to take note that Rana Gurjit was producing power as an industrialist and also purchasing the same. “Who will report any illegality in fixing of rates for this process as long as Rana is power minister,” he asked.

Courtesy:DHNS