'60 acres at 29, Rs 4crore annual income': Dinesh Chadha puts big allegations against Brinder Dhillon

Punjab Newsline | Ropar

A fresh political controversy has erupted in Punjab after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Ropar, Dinesh Chadha, launched a sharp attack on senior Congress leader and former MLA Brinder Singh Dhillon, accusing him of having links with the mining mafia.

Chadha alleged that the Congress was reluctant to take action against Dhillon because he was one of the biggest representatives of the mining mafia within the party. Taking a dig at the Congress's political slogan, he remarked that the party's 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' (shop of love) was filled with mafia-related activities.

Making serious allegations against Dhillon, Chadha claimed that he became the owner of a 60-acre mining site at the age of just 29, despite allegedly not having completed his education. He further alleged that Dhillon had an annual income of around Rs 4 crore.

The Ropar MLA maintained that his allegations were not made without evidence and claimed that the information was available in documents submitted by Dhillon in a case pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Chadha also alleged that Dhillon had left his studies after completing three semesters, sarcastically remarking that the fourth semester was that of the 'sand mafia'.

Questions Congress Leadership Over Dhillon

Targeting the Congress leadership, Chadha questioned why the party was allegedly promoting leaders facing such accusations. Referring to Rahul Gandhi's remarks on social justice, he asked whether Congress wanted to promote individuals allegedly associated with the mining mafia at the cost of Punjab's future and its youth.

Chadha further claimed that from 2013 to 2022, Dhillon had been associated with mining contractors and individuals allegedly involved in collecting 'goonda tax'. He insisted that these allegations were supported by Dhillon's 2017 election affidavit and other documentary records.

The AAP MLA also referred to Dhillon's electoral performance, claiming that voters had rejected him in both the 2017 and 2022 Assembly elections.

During his remarks, Chadha also mentioned Tarkhan majra, saying he did not personally know the individual but, based on what he had read, believed that the person's years of service were greater than Dhillon's age.

Chadha's allegations have added another flashpoint to the political confrontation between the AAP and Congress in Punjab. Dhillon's response to the latest allegations was not available at the time of writing.