Chandigarh, May 19
Reiterating that the AAP government in Punjab has been completely hijacked and taken over by the party’s Delhi-based leaders, and that has led to a constitutional crisis, Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar on Monday demanded a CBI probe into the hooch tragedy in Amritsar that claimed 27 lives.
Interacting with the media after meeting Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, Jakhar said they sought a CBI probe into the hooch tragedy and the government’s liquor mafia links. Led by Jakhar, the delegation submitted a detailed memorandum to the Governor, seeking a probe into links of AAP's Punjab leadership with the liquor mafia running amok in Punjab. The delegation demanded that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) be asked to undertake a probe to expose this nexus.
The delegation included former minister Manoranjan Kalia, MLA Jangi Lal Mahajan, party state General Parminder Brar, among others. Terming it as an avoidable tragedy, the delegation said the quotas distributed under the liquor policy introduced by AAP in Punjab in 2022 were on the lines of Delhi’s excise policy, and this must also be probed to ascertain who got the illegal benefits and to what extent.
“This can be done through stock registers, which must be inspected to find out the truth,†reads the memorandum. A probe into the quantum of foreign liquor quota by contractors each year since July 2022 has also been sought.
Responding to a query, Jakhar, while referring to the CBI investigation into the Delhi’s excise policy, said raids should be conducted in Punjab too as part of the CBI probe and demanded that the ongoing CBI enquiry must be speeded up to conclude so that role of Punjab AAP leaders could also be brought before public and guilty be brought to justice.
“The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) must also be roped in to ascertain illegal proceeds, and the ambit of this CBI enquiry must be widened to include the hooch tragedy of Amritsar,†Jahkar added.
The memorandum also demanded a probe into AAP’s Delhi-based leaders having been allotted official houses in Chandigarh, and also about their presence in official government meetings. The memorandum also sought a probe into the meteoric rise of MLAs, ministers and their relatives during the AAP regime in Punjab.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is heartbreaking! 27 lives lost to illegal liquor while politicians play blame games. Whether it's BJP or AAP, they must prioritize people's safety over political gains. A CBI probe is needed, but what about immediate action to prevent more deaths? 😔
As a Punjabi, I'm ashamed of how liquor mafias operate freely in our state. The Delhi liquor policy was a disaster, and now Punjab is following the same path. Why can't we have strict prohibition like Gujarat? At least our families would be safer.
BJP is right to demand CBI probe but let's not forget they were in power for years before AAP. Why didn't they fix the system then? Both parties need to stop politicizing tragedies and work together to solve Punjab's alcohol problem.
The real issue is poverty driving people to cheap, dangerous liquor. Instead of just probes, we need rehabilitation programs and better employment opportunities. These deaths are symptoms of deeper economic problems in Punjab. #ThinkBeyondPolitics
Enough of these political dramas! Every time there's a tragedy, opposition demands probe and ruling party defends. Meanwhile, common people suffer. We need permanent solutions - better policing, public awareness, and strict punishment for bootleggers.
The liquor mafia-politician nexus is Punjab's worst kept secret. CBI, ED, NCB - bring them all! But will anything change? We've seen probes come and go while the system remains corrupt. Time for complete overhaul of excise policies. ðŸ™
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