The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday said the Punjab police has failed to implement Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s orders to clamp down on goonda tax.
In a Press statement, SAD leader Maheshinder Singh Grewal said the goonda tax is on the increase in the state.
While there has been allegations of collection of “goonda tax” at the under construction Guru Gobind Singh Refinery in Bathinda, unnamed contractors engaged with the Bhisiana Air Force Station have alleged similar extortion in media reports.
A contractor carrying out construction work inside the Indian Air Force (IAF) station had claimed that for supplying sand and gravel for the work inside the station, local transport union has been charging “goonda tax” of Rs 2,500-3,000 per trolley of sand.
Quoting this, the SAD leader said only an inquiry by a sitting judge of the high court could pin down the real culprits and lead to their arrest.
The SAD had earlier accused state finance minister Manpreet Badal’s brother-in-law Jaijeet Singh Johal (Jojo) of collecting “goonda tax” in his (Badal’s) constituency Bathinda.
After reports of illicit collection of money from businesses and industry, Punjab CM Amarinder had on Singh on 15 February directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to crackdown on the so-called ‘goonda tax’.
Amarinder asked the DGP to identify the culprits irrespective of political or other affiliations and take stern action against them. The SAD said no action had been taken in this matter since the last three days.
“It seems CM Amarinder writ does not run in Bathinda parliamentary constituency in which finance minister Badal alone calls the shots.
Manpreet apparently is not giving a free hand to the police authorities to question and take action against his brother-in-law Jaijeet Singh Johal who is being accused of collecting protection money,” the Akali Dal alleged.
The Akali leader also condemned Badal of trying to play the victim card by stating that the SAD was making allegations against his family members.
The Akali leader said the inability of the Congress government to arrest those behind his extortion racked had harmed the image of Punjab and would result in new investors shunning the state.