Raj Sadosh/ Fazilka /Abohar.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal at a protest rally today said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government was suppressing social activists and whistleblowers to hide the loot of the Punjab exchequer at the instance of AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal.
Accusing chief minister Bhagwant Mann of betraying the farming community by not releasing even the Rs 6,800 per acre compensation sent by the centre, the SAD leader said “the AAP government has deliberately delayed released of this compensation by delaying the assessment of the crop damage through the girdawari exercise which has not been completed till now”.
Citing the example of activist Manik Goyal, he said the activist had received an open threat from the Punjab Police to delete a tweet giving information of a bid invited by the AAP government to hire a ten-seater jet aircraft for a period of six months. “It is clear that the jet plane is being hired to facilitate the campaign of AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal in the forthcoming assembly elections in several States at the cost of the Punjab exchequer”.
He also condemned the manner in which social activists were being threatened with dire consequences if they exposed the misdeeds of the AAP government.
Citing the example of activist Manik Goyal, he said the activist had received an open threat from the Punjab Police to delete a tweet giving information of a bid invited by the AAP government to hire a ten-seater jet aircraft for a period of six months. “It is clear that the jet plane is being hired to facilitate the campaign of AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal in the forthcoming assembly elections in several States at the cost of the Punjab exchequer”.
The SAD chief alleged that AAP legislators were forcing the State police not to take action against drug smugglers and illegal sand miners. He said that Tarn Taran district police chief had been shunted out because he had arrested the AAP legislator’s brother-in-law for indulging in illegal mining.