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Badal Government on back foot over after disclosure of Bikram Majithia’s name by Jagdish Bhola

January 8, 2014 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau

Chandigarh/ Punjab (January 8, 2014): As per media reports a day after drug accused Jagdish Bhola raised a political storm linking Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia with the illicit drug trade in Punjab, the state government is in a fix on how best to deal with the raging controversy.

According to The Tribune (TT) “[t]he government remained undecided on whether or not to order an inquiry against the minister till late in the evening. Government sources said top functionaries in the Home Department held closed-door meetings to take a call on initiating an inquiry. The officials debated on the terms of reference of a possible inquiry and the person or agency to be entrusted with the task of going into Bhola’s allegations against Majithia and top police officials who busted the drug racket”.

The Tribune has quoted sources as saying that the reason behind the government mulling an inquiry was to avert the possibility of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) looking into the charges. With the General Election round the corner, the state government does not want to be embarrassed by the allegations levelled against its minister.

It may be recalled that Jagdish Bhola had alleged the involvement of three Badal Dal ministers in the drug racket and threatened to name another minister from the Doaba region on January 20 during his next court hearing.

With senior Congress leader Jagmeet Singh Brar moving the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the court having put the state on notice for a CBI probe in the matter, the state government is wary of the central agency investigating the matter.

“Sources say the government is keen on an action plan before the petition comes up for hearing on January 28” The Tribune news report adds.

Some officials are reported to have argued that ordering an inquiry would tantamount to biting the bait thrown by the Congress. They feel that the government will be cornered if it orders an inquiry. Further, it will not be in the best interest of the SAD-BJP alliance, especially with elections round the corner.

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Related Topics: Bikram Majitha, Jagdish Bhola, Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal)

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