CHANDIGARH: Delhi chief minister and national convener of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Arvind Kejriwal preferred to be non-committal over the controversial Satluj-Yamuna Canal issue, saying it was political and claimed that by April 15, this year, Punjab revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia will be behind bars due to his alleged involvement in the drug mafia operating within the State. Bikram is brother-in-law of Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Kejriwal said that the BJP had government in Punjab, Haryana and at the Centre, and added that, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi could resolve the river waters dispute within five minutes.’’
At the same time, he maintained that the interests of Punjab would not be allowed to be affected.
Kejriwal made no clear cut commitment on the SYL issue at the rally, however he said all aspects of the waters issue will have to be taken into consideration before reaching a final solution. He evaded direct reply when enquired about his opinion on Haryana’s share in Punjab river waters.
Keeping the much talked about drug issue within the State, Kejriwal said that Punjab revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia will be behind bars by April 15. “By March 20, the government will be formed and then investigation will begin as until now he has not been called by the investigation agencies and no proper investigation has been done on his involvement in drug mafia,” he said.
Majithia has been repeatedly accused by the AAP of ties with drug smugglers. He stressed that he wanted to announce the deadline of action against Majithia and to reiterate that the AAP will resolve all issues of the State but no right of the state would be compromised.
The top AAP leader also said a special investigation team (SIT) will be set up to probe the charges against agriculture minister Tota Singh and others. He attacked State Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh for being in league with chief minister Parkash Singh Badal. He alleged that Capt Amarinder Singh had decided to contest from Lambi against Badal to facilitate the latter’s victory.
“Amarinder Singh should contest from only one seat in the State Assembly elections,’’ he said. His argument was that Singh was indebted to Badal for the withdrawal of case against him. When asked about demonetisation will have any impact of AAP campaign in the State, he said, “No, nothing as such. We hardly had any money earlier, and the situation is same now.’’
Kejriwal said that AAP government would not allow chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and members of his cabinet, facing corruption charges, to go scot-free. “We will constitute a Special Investigating Team to probe the ill-gotten wealth of Badal family and recover every single penny looted from Punjab”, he asserted.