Questions Congress leaderships silence on corruption allegations
Says, BJP is no less guilty
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Punjab Finance Minister and senior AAP leader, Harpal Singh Cheema, on Tuesday cornered the Congress party over serious allegations of corruption, suggesting that the party should put up a 'menu board' outside its office. He quipped that this board would inform the public about the fixed rates for obtaining tickets for the post of Chief Minister, Cabinet Minister, Member of Parliament, Member of Legislative Assembly, and other positions including Panchayat elections.
Addressing a press conference here at the party office, Cheema referred to allegations made by Navjot Kaur Sidhu that the post of Chief Minister was being sold for 500 crore rupees in the Congress party, adding that this rate may have increased by now. He expressed astonishment that even after four days, there has been no statement from Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge clarifying where this money was going. He also brought up Sunil Jakhar's allegation that Charanjit Singh Channi secured the Chief Minister's post for 350 crore rupees. Cheema pointed out the surprising silence on the matter from former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Charanjit Singh Channi, as well as Leader of Opposition in the Parliament Rahul Gandhi, Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Pratap Singh Bajwa.
Strongly criticizing the statement by the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, suggesting that Navjot Kaur Sidhu needs psychological treatment, the Finance Minister expressed his sympathy for Navjot Kaur Sidhu as a cancer survivor, stating that after winning her battle with cancer, she is now fighting the battle for the people of Punjab. Cheema said that it is the senior leadership of the Congress party, not Navjot Kaur Sidhu, that needs 'Psychological Treatment.'
Recounting another incident of Congress corruption, Finance Minister reminded the media of the December 10, 2021, fight between two ministers inside Punjab Bhawan, which exposed the corruption in transfers. He noted that these Congress leaders are still serving the party as MLAs and MPs today.
Stating that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is no less guilty, the Finance Minister Cheema noted that two leaders involved in securing posts through corruption are now in the BJP, yet no action has been taken against them. He challenged the BJP's claim of honesty, arguing that both leaders should have been immediately expelled from the party. He further criticized Sunil Jakhar for remaining silent for many years, stating that Jakhar is guilty of suppressing the truth even after repeatedly swearing by the Constitution penned by Baba Sahib Bhim Rao Ambedkar.
The Finance Minister recalled that in 2017, the AAP won 20 seats and exposed the corruption of the Congress party, which formed the government with 77 seats. He highlighted that the corruption was not limited to the Scholarship Scam, which deprived Dalit society youth of their rights, but also included Cabinet meetings being held to ensure jobs for the children and relatives of Cabinet Ministers. In contrast, Cheema said, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the first use of the green pen after the AAP government was formed was for providing jobs to youth from ordinary households. He proudly said that over 56,000 youths have been given jobs transparently so far.