Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema challenges Congress over corruption allegations, highlighting CM ballot sale claims and BJP misconduct.

Punjab Finance Minister and senior AAP leader, Harpal Singh Cheema, on Tuesday challenged the Congress party regarding severe allegations of corruption, implying that the party should display a ‘menu board’ outside its office. He remarked that this board would notify the public of the fixed rates for obtaining ballots for the positions of Chief Minister, Cabinet Minister, Member of Parliament, Member of Legislative Assembly, as well as other roles, including Panchayat elections.

During a press conference held at the party office, Cheema addressed the allegations made by Navjot Kaur Sidhu, asserting that the position of Chief Minister was purportedly being sold for 500 crore rupees within the Congress party, and suggesting that this amount may have since risen. He conveyed surprise that, even after four days, Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge has not issued any statement clarifying the destination of these funds. He also referenced Sunil Jakhar’s allegation that Charanjit Singh Channi obtained the Chief Minister’s position for 350 crore rupees. Cheema highlighted the notable absence of commentary on the issue from former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Charanjit Singh Channi, as well as Leader of Opposition in Parliament Rahul Gandhi, Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Pratap Singh Bajwa.

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Expressing strong disapproval of the statement made by the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, which implied that Navjot Kaur Sidhu requires psychological treatment, the Finance Minister conveyed his sympathy for Navjot Kaur Sidhu as a cancer survivor. He stated that, having triumphed over her battle with cancer, she is now engaged in the ongoing effort to serve the people of Punjab. Cheema stated that it is the senior leadership of the Congress party, rather than Navjot Kaur Sidhu, who requires “psychological treatment.”

Recounting another instance of Congress corruption, the Finance Minister reminded the media of the December 10, 2021, altercation between two ministers within Punjab Bhawan, which revealed instances of transfer-related corruption. He observed that these Congress stalwarts are currently serving the party as Members of the Legislative Assembly and Members of Parliament.

Stating that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is equally culpable, Finance Minister Cheema observed that two leaders implicated in obtaining positions through corruption are now members of the BJP, yet no disciplinary measures have been implemented against them. He contested the BJP’s assertion of integrity, asserting that both leaders ought to have been promptly expelled from the party. He also criticized Sunil Jakhar for his prolonged silence, asserting that Jakhar bears responsibility for concealing the truth despite repeatedly affirming allegiance to the Constitution drafted by Baba Sahib Bhim Rao Ambedkar.

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The Finance Minister recalled that in 2017, the AAP secured 20 seats and revealed the corruption within the Congress party, which founded the government with 77 seats. He emphasized that corruption extended beyond the Scholarship Scam, which deprived Dalit youth of their rights, to include Cabinet meetings convened to secure employment for the children and relatives of Cabinet Ministers. In contrast, Cheema stated that, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the initial utilization of the green pen following the formation of the AAP administration was to facilitate employment opportunities for youth from ordinary households. He confidently stated that more than 56,000 young individuals have been provided with employment opportunities in a transparent manner to date.