Act against corrupt ministers: Oppn to CM

“The chief minister must overcome his moral shortcomings and act against the corrupt ministers. Badal is turning a deaf ear to corruption charges against his ministerial colleagues in illegal mining,embezzlement of border area development fund and Sarv Sikhya Abhiyan in which Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia,Animal Husbandry Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike and Education Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka,respectively,are involved,” they added.

Terming the inquiry into “book scam” as “travesty of justice”,the party said the reputation of Justice (retd) A K Jindal — a retired Punjab and Haryana High Court judge who has been asked to probe the case — was mired by controversies and he is considered close to the Badals. The leaders demanded an inquiry by CBI or by a sitting high court judge.

The four vice-presidents further said that while the chief minister claims to be the champion of democracy,he did not allow free and fair panchayati raj elections and invited only elected members of block samiti and zila parishads affiliated with SAD-BJP for a function held to welcome them at Kisan Bhawan in Chandigarh on Tuesday.

Cong men burn Maluka’s effigy

Phagwara: The Phagwara Block Congress Committee workers on Tuesday demanded the dismissal of Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka for alleged irregularities in the purchase of school library books,science kits and supply of map masters. Led by former Punjab minister Joginder Singh Mann,the workers also burnt the effigy of Maluka outside the office of the block primary education officer. PTI