Those demanding CBI probe fearbeing exposed: Capt

Saturday, 11/01/2014

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Chandigarh : Prying open the rift in the Punjab Congress further, Capt Amarinder Singh, former Punjab Chief Minister, has dismissed the demand for a CBI inquiry into the Bhola drug case as nothing more than a “trap being laid by those who feared being exposed for their unholy nexus with drug lords in their illegal narcotics business empire.”

Incidentally, it is PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa who is demanding a CBI probe.

Speaking to Daily Post from New Delhi over the telephone on Friday, Capt Singh demanded withdrawal of the call for Punjab Bandh and the agitation announced by the PPCC. Though assertive and blunt at times during his telephonic conversation, he did not name any individual.

The former CM said everybody knew that the CBI was “overburdened” and would not be able to conclude the investigations over next ten years.

“This is what those demanding CBI probe want. But we have to be careful not to fall into the trap laid out by the main accused to shift the focus of the investigations, apparently in a smart bid to save his own skin,” Capt Singh said.

Asked as if his statement as senior Congress leader and permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee would harm the party in the wake of the stand taken by PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa, who has given Punjab Bandh call for January 16, Capt Singh said he was least bothered.

“I feel that the demand for CBI probe and demoralisation of the Punjab Police team that cracked the case, is totally unwarranted. Hence, I have spoken for a cause keeping aside the state politics or individuals being affected or benefited from the entire episode”, he said.

Capt Singh made it clear that he would not participate in the bandh call or any agitation seeking transfer of the investigations from the Punjab Police to any other agency. Such demand should be made only if the investigations are delayed, deviated and drifted from the course but in the Bhola case, the Punjab Police have done extremely well.

Refusing to name any individual, he said it was obvious and well indicated that the demand for CBI inquiry was being raked only to derail the investigations due to the fear of being exposed for their active involvement in the drug trade.

“I am of the firm opinion that the PPCC, its leaders and other parties, too

must exercise restraint lest they play into the hands of the vested interests,” he added.

Eulogising the Punjab Police for having “dared to unearth” the international drug smuggling racket, Capt Singh said the Patiala Police had actually done what even the CBI or the Narcotics Control Bureau could not do.

“We can’t allow our police to be demoralised, that too after the outstanding job they have done by exposing the racket and hand over it to some other agencies,” he quipped.

“I as well as the people of Punjab have full faith in the integrity and commitment of the police investigating the matter under the leadership of Patiala SSP to take it to its logical conclusion and punish all the culprits no matter how big and powerful they might be or how influential positions they might be holding,” Capt Singh added.

The letter Capt wrote as CM

Though Capt Singh did not name people having “vested interests”, his assertions assume significance against the backdrop of the letter written by him as CM to the party high command. In his letter, he had accused the Punjab Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa and his brother Fateh Jung Bajwa, of “patronizing” and “colluding” with notorious drug smugglers in Punjab, a charge repeatedly denied by the Bajwa brothers. Also, Capt Singh’s assertions have once again brought open the rift between Bajwa and Capt Singh.