Amarinder Singh, Rahul discuss tainted minister, cabinet expansion
Sunday, 04/06/2017
http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=177257&boxid=59789&uid=&dat=2017-06-04
New Delhi : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday met Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and is learnt to have discussed expansion of his cabinet and allegations of benami transactions against state minister Rana Gurjit Singh.
Sources said Amarinder Singh informed the Congress vice president about the judicial inquiry initiated into allegations that Punjab Irrigation and Power Minister Rana Gurjit Singh had acquired sand mines through his company’s employees during auctions held recently.
The Punjab chief minister dismissed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Sukhpal Khaira questioning the integrity and honesty of Justice (Retd) J S Narang, who is probing all aspects of the recent sand mine auctions. A section of the media has levelled allegations of `benami transactions’ against Gurjit Singh.
“Khaira’s wife is related to Justice Ranjit Singh, who is heading the fresh commission we have instituted to investigate the sacrilege cases. So does that mean she can influence him?” “Let the report of the judicial inquiry come in. Let us not crucify the minister without proof,” he said.
He rejected Khaira’s contention that Justice Narang should recuse himself from the inquiry since his son had appeared as counsel for Rana Gurjit’s relative in some case. Describing his meeting with Gandhi as `routine’, Amarinder said it had been over a month since he had last met the party vice president and had hence called on him.
The two leaders discussed the expansion of the Punjab cabinet which is likely to happen after the budget session of the state assembly. The chief minister said the cabinet will be expanded in due course and the media will be informed as and when it happened.
Highlights
Captain informed Rahul Gandhi about the judicial inquiry initiated against Irrigation Minister.
Amarinder took on AAP’s Sukhpal Khaira for questioning Justice Narang’s integrity.
The duo discussed names for the expansion of Punjab cabinet.
