With Aam Aadmi Party MLA and the Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Sukhpal Singh Khaira accusing cabinet minister Charanjit Singh Channi of being involved in illegal mining, the latter on Monday said he or his family members have no link or stake in the mining business.

In a statement, Channi said Khaira had earlier said that his relatives were indulged in illegal mining and he has backtracked from it now. “Now Khaira is saying that some known people of my relatives are involved in illegal mining, and he himself says that the sand mine site in question is legally allotted by the government in an open auction, surprisingly every day Khaira changes his statement and come up with new false story,” the minister said.

Channi said that his photos with the legal sand mine owner presented by Khaira in the media are of public functions and dharnas where anyone can participate, simultaneously Khaira himself says that no one can be declared culprit on the basis of photographs.

The minister offered that he with his family members is ready to swear at Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar which is the highest temporal authority that he has no stake in the legal or illegal mining activity.

Channi asked Khaira to join him along with his family at Sri Darbar Sahib and the Almighty would punish the liar. He further said that he is even ready to swear at any worship place of Khaira’s choice.

Channi dared Khaira to prove even his or his family members’ even a single penny in legal or illegal mining otherwise he would have to face legal suite. He has very respectfully asked Khaira to stop such baseless false mud sledging in politics and try to play a role of opposition leader in a constructive manner.

On Saturday, Khaira had alleged that besides the cabinet minister, some other ruling party MLAs were involved in the illegal sand mining in the state. “I have the information that state cabinet minister Charanjit Singh Channi and some of his family members were involved in illegal mining in Nawanshahr, Khaira had alleged.

He claimed there were some influential persons behind the illegal sand mining and demanded their names be made public. The AAP leader was referring to the recent crackdown against illegal mining launched by the authorities in Nawanshahr on the directions of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.