A day after Aam Aadmi Party legislator Amarjeet Singh Sandoa was assaulted allegedly by the sand mining mafia in Rupnagar district, a political blame game has begun in Punjab.
While the AAP leaders on Friday accused the Amarinder Singh government of failing to maintain law and order in the State, the Congress alleged that Mr. Sandoa himself was a part of the sand mafia and was “directly-indirectly” involved in illegal mining.
Punjab Congress leaders Pawan Dewan and Gurmail Singh Pahalwan alleged that Mr. Sandoa was extorting money from sand mining contractors and the attack was actually a “scuffle over payment of money”. “The AAP instead of crying wolf should take action against Mr. Sandoa,” the leaders said.
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The Shiromani Akali Dal has demanded a judicial investigation into the episode, alleging that video evidence from the site suggested that the people who attacked Mr. Sandoa were protesting against alleged extortion by the AAP legislator.
“These allegations are very serious in nature and should be verified immediately,” said SAD spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema, adding that Mr. Sandoa should be given a chance to come clean and present his side before an independent inquiry panel.