In 2022, when the Aam Aadmi Social gathering (AAP) stormed to energy in Punjab, successful 92 out of 117 seats, many believed it marked the daybreak of a brand new period in state politics, with the get together promising good governance, transparency, and an finish to corruption.
But, practically three years later, the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP authorities is within the information for trying to revive its anti-corruption drive within the wake of the Arvind Kejriwal-led get together’s debacle within the current Delhi Meeting elections.
The AAP had swept each Delhi and Punjab, using its anti-corruption plank. However with the AAP’s rout within the Delhi polls partly attributed to allegations of corruption – from the alleged liquor coverage rip-off to the “Sheesh Mahal” controversy – the get together management has seen a transparent public sign that an anti-corruption agenda is required to regain its momentum.
So now, with a watch on the 2027 Punjab Meeting polls, the AAP has renewed its concentrate on rooting out corruption within the state – the get together’s most important promise throughout its 2022 ballot marketing campaign.
On Friday, the Mann authorities sought resignations from 236 legislation officers, with officers citing its “unhappiness” over the efficiency of the Advocate Normal’s workplace, notably after the federal government had misplaced a number of circumstances within the courts.
Whereas these resignations have been given, Advocate Normal Gurminder Singh stated the officers will proceed of their posts till the “whole (AG) workplace is restructured”.
Final December, the Punjab and Haryana Excessive Court docket had quashed the FIRs in opposition to former Congress ministers Bharat Bhushan Ashu and Sunder Sham Arora over graft allegations, with the AAP dispensation dealing with a setback in its purported goal of taking motion in opposition to corruption in public life. Each these circumstances have been dealt with by the Vigilance Bureau.
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Final Monday, the Mann authorities eliminated Varinder Kumar, a 1993 batch IPS officer, from his publish as chief director of the Vigilance Bureau, and requested him to report back to the director basic of police (DGP).
On Thursday, the federal government dismissed greater than 50 law enforcement officials, starting from constables to inspectors, on fees of corruption. On Friday, a rejig within the state police noticed the federal government appointing new police chiefs in 9 districts. In the meantime, the state police stated eight superintendents of police (SPs) and 10 deputy SPs have been suspended in current months.
Final Monday, Sri Muktsar Sahib’s Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Tripathi, a 2016 batch IAS officer, was additionally suspended and a vigilance inquiry was ordered in opposition to him following “critical complaints of corruption”.
With such mass dismissals within the Punjab Police, the AAP authorities is seeking to ship a robust sign about its dedication to tackling corruption.
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After the AAP got here to energy within the state in early 2022, the Vigilance Bureau had slapped circumstances in opposition to former ministers and leaders of different events, drawing allegations of “vendetta politics”. By taking the above measures, the federal government is making an attempt to mission its dedication to probity.
Nonetheless, Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa, the Chief of the Opposition (LoP) within the Meeting, has accused the AAP authorities of allegedly “cherry selecting” corruption circumstances, focusing on lower-ranking officers whereas shielding senior functionaries. He charged that this “selective strategy” undermined the get together’s said “zero-tolerance” stand on corruption.
Bajwa cited allegations in opposition to a number of AAP leaders, together with former well being minister Vijay Singla, who was accused of corruption shortly after the get together got here to energy. Although CM Mann had eliminated him from the Cupboard, Singla acquired reduction from the courts after the Vigilance Bureau was unable to provide any proof in opposition to him. “Whereas Singla was promptly faraway from his place, the case has been notably hushed up, with Singla now collaborating in get together actions as if nothing had occurred,” Bajwa stated.
“One other scandal that raised eyebrows was the viral audio clip of former AAP minister Fauja Singh Sarari allegedly discussing an extortion plan. Regardless of the severity of the accusations, the get together appeared to make each effort to guard Sarari. In the meantime, Cupboard minister Lal Chand Kataruchak’s involvement within the alleged Pathankot Panchayat land rip-off and allegations of sexual misconduct have but to lead to any important motion,” the LoP alleged, including that AAP MLA Amit Rattan Kotfatta was additionally dealing with allegations over a bribery case.
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On its half, the AAP has, nonetheless, asserted that the Mann authorities’s current measures are a part of its marketing campaign in opposition to corruption. Punjab AAP spokesperson Neel Garg stated, “It’s simply that we now have intensified our campaign after the CM’s orders. We now have been nailing the corrupt ever since we got here to energy. On our helpline for complaints in opposition to corruption, we obtained 1,900 complaints, out of which 438 circumstances have been registered and 817 arrests have been made. Now, we’re making it extra intense.”
