Chandigarh/ Punjab (January 20, 2014): Demanding CBI probe into muti-crore drug racket in Punjab and it’s links with Punjab Cabinet minister Bikram Majithia the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Partap Singh Bajwa started a relay fast at the Congress Bhavan, Chandigarh on January 20.
The congress party has also been demanding that arrest of Bikram Majithia, who was named as patron of drug trade by Jagdish Bhola, prime accused of the global drug racket.
While speaking on the occasion, Partap Singh Bajwa reportedly said: “[w]e are mobilising people in all constituencies. We may be forced to launch ‘rail roko’ and shut commercial establishments”.
“I am ready to go on an indefinite fast if our voice goes unheard”, he added.
Bikram Majithia (L)[File Photo] | Congress Leaders on rally hunger strike at Chandigarh [Jan. 19, 2014] (R)
Pointing out that accused drug-lord Jagdish Bhola had named Bikram Majithia as the brain behind the drug racket in the state, Partap Bajwa said the police had earlier arrested Maninder Singh Aulakh and Jagjit Singh Chahal, also close to Majithia.
“The police claim to have arrested 50 persons named by Bhola. Now, a separate yardstick is being used in Majithia’s case”, he alleged.
Manwhile, there are reports that the ruling Badal Dal leaders said that the Congress was holding a “sham hunger strike” after the people of the state rejected PPCC Partap Singh Bajwa’s decision to take the support of a drug-lord to attack the Badal-BJP Government.
Terming Partap Bajwa’s protest as a “photo opportunity” to keep himself in the news, SAD spokesman Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said it was ironic that Partap Singh Bajwa had fallen back on an “in-house hunger strike in the comfort of the party office”.
On the other hand Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has once again ruled out a commission to probe drug smuggling cases. He claimed it was owing to the harsh measures initiated by his government that drug peddlers such as Jagdish Bhola and others have been arrested and drugs in large quantities seized.
It is notable that Jagdish Bhola, prime accused in a case related to global drug racket had named Bikram Majithia in one of his media interactions. Jagdish Bhola had alleged that Bikram Majithai was main persons behind the illicit drug trade in Punjab and he had been demanded CBI inquiry into the matter.