Sunil Jakhar submits memorandum to Election Commission

— *Punjab BJP president demands probe into tainted Punjab Excise Policy to unearth corruption*

— *Apprehensions are there that Punjab lost at least Rs 1000 crore in revenue due to illegality perpetrated through Punjab Excise Policy: Jakhar*

Chandigarh, March 23

On lines of now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy, Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government with the devious motive to illegally benefit a select few had come up with the Punjab Excise Policy. With the Enforcement Directorate arresting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his role in orchestrating massive corruption through Delhi Excise Policy, Punjab president of Bhartiya Janata Party, Sunil Jakhar, requested chief electoral officer of Punjab to order a detailed investigation by ED to unearth mountain of corruption sponsored and patented by Bhagwant Mann dispensation.

The BJP delegation, led by Sunil Jakhar, submitted a memorandum to Sibin C, Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab, and demanded ED probe into planned corruption in Punjab Excise Policy. Those present in the delegation include—union minister Som Prakash, Former Union Minister Vijay Sampla, Former State Presidents Ashwani Sharma and Manoranjan Kalia, General Secretary of Punjab BJP Parminder Brar, MLA Jangi Lal Mahajan, National Executive Member Sardar Harjit Singh Grewal, State Convenor Legal Cell NK Verma, State Convenor of Cells Ranjan Kamra, State Media Incharge Vineet Joshi and Senior BJP Leader Bibi Amanjot Ramoowalia.

In the memorandum, Jakhar said, “The need and salience of this probe assumes enhanced significance in the backdrop of recent developments with Constitutional Courts of the country not only refusing to bail applications of already arrested Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Cabinet Minister Satyender Jain and AAP MP Sanjay Singh, but also registering strong observations against the Delhi CM while acknowledging the prima facie establishment of kickbacks and money trail in the Delhi Excise Policy.”

“In Punjab, where Bhagwant Mann-led government acted at the behest of its Delhi masters now behind bars to allow official plunder of Punjab’s resources; and there is an apprehension that Punjab has lost at least Rs. 1000 crore in revenue due to this favouritism and illegality perpetrated through Punjab Excise Policy. The fact that one such company whose proprietor is behind bars already for receiving illegal benefits under Delhi Excise Policy was handpicked and awarded 40% share in Punjab Liquor trade after the inception of AAP government in the state might just be the tip of the iceberg as far as blatant connivance of Bhagwant Mann-led government in appropriating the liquor trade in Punjab is concerned.”

“The probe, will not only unearth corruption by AAP in Punjab but also would be a step to ensure an end to further eroding of Punjab’s taxpayers’ money at the hands of this regime, Jakhar said, adding that officers of Punjab Excise Department had been coerced to sign on the dotted line by State AAP leadership at the behest of their Delhi masters.

Jakhar urged the Commission to also direct ED to safeguard those officers and bring out truth to ensure justice to the people of Punjab. “Some of those officers have already faced questioning and the ED probe must take it to its logical conclusion.”

“It is also a genuine apprehension that black money so received by AAP through kickbacks will be put to use to influence voters during ensuing Lok Sabha Elections. Moreover, under patronage of AAP leadership in Punjab, liquor barons already behind bars and gangsters in jails have been running the liquor mafia with impunity”, the memorandum further read.

To ensure elections in Punjab take place under a free and fair environment, Jakhar requested CEO to direct ED to probe smuggling of liquor from Punjab being facilitated by the state government at a huge cost to state exchequer and public health. The ongoing reports of human tragedy in Sangrur constituency – from where both the CM Bhagwant Mann and FM Harpal Cheema represent the people in Vidhan Sabha, due to spurious liquor begs for immediate action.

“By acting swifty, the ED probe must seize evidence of collusion of state government to inflict financial loot of Punjab and bring the guilty to book like the Central Agency has done in Delhi Excise Scandal”, Jakhar concluded.