The kidney transplant scam in Punjab took another turn today with CM Amarinder Singh accusing previous SAD-BJP government of ‘‘connivance’’ with the accused and said his predecessor, Parkash Singh Badal, could be questioned in this connection.Speaking at his residence here, Amarinder said if the ‘‘Special Investigation Team (probing the scam) feels that Badal is involved in the scam, he will be questioned’’.‘‘The scam was carried out in connivance with the previous government led by Badal. Either it was an incompetent government, as it failed to uncover the scam, or he (Badal) was a party to it,’’ the CM said.Asked about the confessions of arrested kidney specialist Dr P.K. Sareen that he had given Badal Rs 50 lakh before the Majitha bypoll in 2001, Amarinder said: ‘‘The SIT is probing the matter.’’Stating that he had given a ‘‘carte blanche’’ to SIT to get to the bottom of the scandal, he added there was ‘‘definite involvement’’ of doctors and touts in the scandal. ‘‘No leniency will be shown to those whose names figure in the scandal. Those involved will be brought to justice,’’ he said.He also came down heavily on the Punjab unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) for demanding a CBI probe into the scandal, saying it was trying to protect involved doctors. ‘‘The IMA should be ashamed that it is trying to protect corrupt doctors. The doctors were involved in a corrupt system and IMA is supporting them. What kind of justice is this that kidneys of the poor were taken out and given to the rich? What kind of governance was this under Badal? The poor have given their kidneys and are behind bars, while the rich go scotfree. I have directed SIT not to oppose bail applications of the poor donors who are in jail,’’ Amarinder said.Reacting to Amarinder’s statement, Badal said in Hoshiarpur that the CM was ‘‘unnecessarily’’ trying to drag his name in ‘‘false cases’’. ‘‘During my tenure as Punjab CM thrice, I never supported or helped any criminal. Amarinder’s single-point programme is to implicate me in false cases and defame me.’’Describing the kidney scam as ‘‘shameful’’, Badal said an impartial probe by SIT is not possible ‘‘as it is under the control of the chief minister’’. He also refuted the reported accusations of Sareen that he had paid Rs 1 crore to the doctor on two occasions.
