LUDHIANA: While raising allegations against food, civil supplies and consumer affairs minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, the leaders of Shiromani Akali Dal under the leadership of senior leader Bikram Majithia staged protest in Kochar market chowk on Wednesday.
Amidst jostling with cops deployed near Ashu' residence, the Akali leaders tried reaching his house but cops did not allow them to do so and were arrested from the spot. The Akali Dal leaders alleged that Ashu during lockdown did not distribute the ration to the poor people rather he sold the ration outside state to earn money. Majithia however announced to conduct an inquiry against Ashu through suspended DSP Balwinder Sekhon after appointing him on duty again.
The SAD leaders had reached the spot in the morning and large number of workers started gathering at the spot for participating in protest. Earlier in the morning the Akali leaders and MC officials had tussle over removal of banners displayed by Akali Dal to welcome Majithia. SAD leaders alleged that ruling party was adopting such tactics to suppress opposition. However the protest started where various Akali Dal leaders came on stage and highlighted the plight of poor people during lockdown.
The senior Akali Dal leader Majithia said, they had staged protest in Nabha recently against SC post matric scholarship scam and involvement of cabinet minister Sadhu SINGH Dharamsot and now they were protesting against Ashu who took away the ration meant for poor people. He said during lockdown every person had its impact on their businesses but Ashu made most of the opportunity and earned in crores. Majithia said once they will be back in the government, they will take action against such corrupt ministers of Captain Amarinder Singh.
He announced to bring back Balwinder Sekhon who had inquired the CLU scam case where Ashu' involvement was highlighted. He also condemned Ashu' role in giving shelter to terrorists many years ago. Majithia also attacked at Lok Insaaf Party MLAs Simarjit Singh Bains and Balwinder Bains for not uttering even a single word against Ashu till date.
The leaders then marched towards the residence of minister where cops stopped them. The leaders first had some arguments with cops but then they sat on protest in between the road. This continued for more than half an hour and then Majithia along with other leaders were taken away from spot and were released as well.
The Congress MP Ravneet Bittu while reacting over this protest commented before questioning the credibility of cabinet minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, the Shiromani Akali Dal should first come clean on fraud of Rs 31,000 committed in the Food, Civil Supplies and consumer Affairs Department during their 10 years of tenure.
Meanwhile the Congress district president Ashwani Sharma said the Akali Dal was still in alliance with BJP and they were only trying to divert the attention from farmers protest to these issues. He said ruling party leaders were staging protest in Delhi for welfare of farmers and state whereas Akali Dal was playing politics so that attention could be diverted.