Why Is the Chief Minister Silent on the PCA Scam: Kewal Singh Dhillon
Says the Aam Aadmi Party Government’s Punjab Model Stands Exposed
Demands Immediate FIR and Action Against the Accused
Chandigarh, October 16:The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken serious note of the alleged ₹77.99 crore land scam involving the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA). Reacting to a letter written by the Jalandhar Zone of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to the Mohali SSP seeking the registration of an FIR against the PCA, Punjab BJP State President Kewal Singh Dhillon questioned why the Punjab Chief Minister was silent on the matter.
Dhillon said, “Another new scandal involving this government has come to light. The PCA president and his son are senior leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party and are on the ED’s radar.”
Dhillon said the alleged land scam had exposed the Aam Aadmi Party government’s Punjab Model. He added that the ED’s preliminary investigation had revealed shocking details. During the tenure of Amarjeet Mehta and Padamjeet Mehta, land was allegedly purchased from farmers in Ajnala and Bathinda at low prices and subsequently sold to the PCA at prices 15.4 times higher.
He said, “Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann must explain whether this is what he calls his Punjab Model. He must also explain how land prices increased 15-fold within just four months.” The BJP State President said, “The investigation has revealed that the PCA purchased 155 kanals and 15 marlas of land in Ajnala for ₹58 crore and 100 kanals and 10 marlas of land in Bathinda for approximately ₹19.76 crore. A few months earlier, two companies had purchased this land from farmers at significantly lower prices. One company purchased 61 kanals of land from farmers at ₹2.22 lakh per kanal, for a total of ₹1.36 crore, and sold it to the PCA four months later at ₹37.4 lakh per kanal for ₹12.03 crore. Similarly, another company purchased 224 kanals of land from farmers for ₹5.56 crore and subsequently sold it to the PCA for ₹46.18 crore.”
Dhillon said this was yet another example of a government involved in cash-for-favours transactions. He added that a government which had claimed it would promote cricket had now turned the PCA into a factory for exploiting farmers.
He questioned the state government and demanded that it explain where the money allegedly extracted from farmers had gone. Dhillon said the BJP demanded that the Mohali SSP immediately register an FIR in the case. He also called for a time-bound investigation and strict action against those found guilty.
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Punjab BJP State Executive Committee Maps Out Organisational and Future Strategy in Sangrur
Condemns AAP Government’s Failures, Drug Menace, Gangsterism, Corruption and Deteriorating Law and Order
Passes Resolution Commending Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25 Years of Public Service
Sangrur / Chandigarh, October 16:The Punjab BJP State Executive Committee met in Sangrur today under the chairmanship of State President Kewal Singh Dhillon. Addressing the media after the meeting, Dhillon launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government over the prevailing situation in Punjab. He said that the drug menace, gangsterism, corruption and deteriorating law and order were causing serious difficulties for ordinary citizens, traders, government employees and young people across the state.
Emphasising the need for a BJP-led double-engine government in Punjab, Dhillon said that only the BJP could provide lasting solutions to the state’s problems. He said the meeting focused on shaping the party’s organisational and future strategy, while also preparing a chargesheet highlighting the failures of the AAP government.
*25 Years of Public Service by Prime Minister Modi
Dhillon said that, alongside discussions on the party’s strategy for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, the meeting unanimously passed a resolution commending Prime Minister Narendra Modi for completing 25 years of public service, first as Chief Minister and subsequently as Prime Minister of India.
The meeting began with State President Kewal Singh Dhillon hoisting the party flag. During the inaugural session, Union Minister Jitendra Singh initiated a discussion on Modi’s 25-year journey in public service and moved a resolution expressing appreciation and gratitude.
Former Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu, former State President Manoranjan Kalia, MLA and former State President Ashwani Sharma, and BJP National Vice-President and former Punjab Minister Manpreet Singh Badal participated actively in the discussion. The resolution was subsequently passed unanimously.
*Organisational and Future Strategy
One of the key sessions focused on “Organisation and Future Plan” and was addressed by Dr Satish Poonia, the party’s Punjab in-charge and Rajya Sabha MP.
During the session, State General Secretary (Organisation) Srinivasulu Mantri outlined plans to strengthen the party organisation, discussed upcoming programmes and presented the party’s future strategy. Punjab co-in-charge Virendra Sachdeva and Punjab co-in-charge and Rajya Sabha MP Alka Gurjar also addressed the gathering.
Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra and Failures of the AAP Government
During the session on the failures of the Punjab government, former State Presidents Vijay Sampla, Avinash Rai Khanna and Shwet Malik criticised the AAP government, declaring it a failure on every front.
The meeting also reviewed the BJP’s Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra and discussed various aspects of the party’s campaign against drugs. State General Secretaries Rajesh Bagha and Rajneesh Dhiman also held detailed discussions on the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan.
*Chargesheet Against AAP and BJP’s Manifesto
Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak discussed the chargesheet prepared against the AAP government, while Sunil Jakhar, former Punjab BJP State President and former MP, shared details on matters related to the party’s election manifesto.
The day-long meeting covered organisational matters, issues of public concern and preparations for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. The meeting concluded with an address by State President Kewal Singh Dhillon.
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“Chief Minister, If There Are No Drugs in Punjab, Who Are You Waging the ‘War Against Drugs’ Against?”: Vijay Sampla
Chief Minister Must Resign, Otherwise the People Will Remove His Government from Power: Sampla
Chandigarh, October 16:Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Vijay Sampla has termed the high-level meeting convened by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Phillaur to discuss Punjab’s drug problem a one-sided lecture by the Chief Minister.
According to a statement issued by the BJP office in Chandigarh, Sampla questioned the purpose of the meeting, alleging that instead of holding substantive discussions on the drug menace, an attempt was made to conclude the proceedings with jokes and poetic exchanges.
Sampla alleged that the Chief Minister had stated that Punjab’s drug problem was not as severe as it was being portrayed. He questioned, “If there is no major drug problem in the state, then against whom is the ‘War Against Drugs’ campaign being conducted?” He said the government must answer these questions.
He said IAS, IPS, PPS and PCS officers were also present at the meeting, and the occasion should have been used for serious deliberations on the drug menace. However, he alleged that the Chief Minister made everyone sit in a large hall, delivered his rehearsed speech and left. Sampla further alleged that the Chief Minister neither addressed the killings of anti-drug activists nor made any major announcement regarding the fight against drugs, despite the need to do so in view of the prevailing circumstances.
Taking a dig at the Chief Minister, Sampla said that even when a phulka (Indian flatbread) gets overcooked in the Chief Minister’s kitchen, he points fingers at the Narendra Modi government, and Amit Shah appears in his dreams as well.
Sampla said that the Joint Justice Committee, formed to seek justice for Parvinder Jhota, was also demanding the resignations of the Chief Minister and the Director General of Police (DGP). He demanded that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann take moral responsibility and resign immediately, warning that otherwise, the people of Punjab would remove his government from power.
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