20 days on, Rs 600 crore excise loss is dead issue for most Congress MLAs

JALANDHAR: The alleged revenue loss of Rs 600 crore to the excise department is no more an issue for most of the Congress MLAs, who had raised the matter in the first place while seeking an inquiry into the losses to the department in the past three years.


At least one of them who had earlier tweeted to demand an inquiry has said that it was never an issue for him and he wanted to corner the chief secretary due to a different reason.

One Punjab minister and nine Congress MLAs had raised the issue very strongly 20 days back. It was Gidderbaha MLA Amarinder Singh Raja Warring who had taken the lead in alleging a loss of Rs 600 crore had demanded an inquiry into the matter.

After Raja's tweet on May 13 in which he had tagged chief minister Amaridner Singh, cooperation minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa also joined the issue on the Twitter, demanding a probe while arguing that "someone has to be held responsible for the revenue loss for last 3 years of the excise department."

At this, Warring retweeted Randhawa's statement, stating he agreed with the minster and the CM should initiate an inquiry.

Later, MLAs Sangat Singh Gilzian, Raj Kumar Verka, Balwinder Singh Laddi, Fatehjug Singh Bajwa, Kulbir Singh Zira, Barindermeet Singh Pahra, Joginder Pal and Dr Harjot Kamal also tweeted while endorsing Warring and Randhawa's demand for a probe in the revenue loss to the department for three years.

When asked if the issue has been sorted out, Warring on Wednesday said when he met the chief minister, the latter said there were some reasons for the losses and he had asked for a report from the department about the same. "The CM had said that he would let us know about the report," Raja said, adding, "now let us see what would be there in the report." Warring had met the CM on May 20 along with Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar, minister Randhawa, MLAs Pargat Singh and Gilzian.

Gilzian washed his hands of the issue, stating it was never his issue. "I did not raise the issue. My issue was that the chief secretary had a file against an SDM, but he did not clear it," he said. Asked about his tweet on the issue, he said his son might have done that. "My issue was that he was not clearing a file against an SDM. I thought that when CS had been cornered, I should also put noose around his neck," Gilzian said.

Verka said, "The CM has already said that he had inquired into the matter and it was a routine loss and there was no conspiracy in it. For us, the issue is already over."

Qadian MLA Bajwa toed the same line, saying, "The CM said there were no losses at all, so the issue died down. Once CM says so, then the matter ends. Moreover, the CM is also the excise minister." Incidentally, his elder brother and Rajya Sabha member Partap Singh Bajwa has recently claimed that loss of revenue to the excise department was of Rs 2,700 crore and demanded an inquiry by a sitting judge of the high court.

Sri Hargobindpur MLA Laddi said, "The issue is over now after the ministers settled down after talking to the CM in the cabinet meeting."

Only Moga MLA Dr Kamal and Bhoa MLA Joginder Pal appeared consistent on the issue. "My only issue was loss of revenue. Ideally liquor should not be sold, but government allows it for revenue. And if we are losing the revenue then what is the fun in continuing its sale. An inquiry should be held to find out those responsible for the loss," said Dr Harjot Kamal.

MLA Joginder Pal said the CM should order an inquiry. Asked the reason for silence after MLAs appeared to be taking a very principled stand, he said, "Some are afraid, but some are not."

Minister Randhawa, MLAs Zira and Pahra did not take calls despite repeated attempts.