AAP exposed illegal sand mining in Punjab: Raghav Chadha

Exposing the illegal mining operations in Punjab CM Charanjeet Channi’s constituency, AAP Co-incharge for Punjab and MLA Shri Raghav Chadha said that hypocrite Channi Sahab is protecting the Reta Mafia which he swore to eradicate. He took a jibe at the Punjab CM’s false claims that no illegal mining is taking place, when he himself raided an illegal mining site in the Punjab CM’s own constituency. Raghav Chadha said that CM Charanjeet Channi is escaping accountability for the illegitimate sand mining, and going to some far off region and declaring mining legal over there while illicit activities continue under his own nose.

He also pointed out that the forest officer who wrote a letter to the SHO complaining against this mining site was immediately transferred by the Channi Government, while no action was taken to shut down the illegal activities. Pointing out Punjab CM’s extremely heedless attitude, AAP Co-incharge for Punjab and MLA Shri Raghav Chadha said, “Punjab CM Charanjeet Channi’s Vidhan Sabha constituency was raided by the Aam Aadmi Party yesterday.

During this, it was found that illegal sand mining activities are taking place under the CM’s nose, in his own constituency. Such illicit activities are taking place in his own region, under his protection.” He added, “Today, the Chief Minister went to some remote corner of the region and said that the mining work that is happening in that specific region is legal. He falsely claimed that no illegal mining is in fact taking place. But he completely overlooked the site which was raided and found illegal by us, by the Aam Aadmi Party just yesterday. Instead, he reached a separate mining site and declared it as legal, with no response to the actual illegal practice taking place under his own nose.” Visiting a mining site in Jindapur village of Chamkaur Sahib, Shri Raghav Chadha exposed the illegal mining practices taking place there.

He said, “Illegitimate sand mining is openly taking place in Chief Minister Channi’s constituency. This sand is being regularly transported via trucks. When Channi Sahab became the Chief Minister, he had said that he would end the ‘Reta Mafia’ racket, but the very same mafia is now openly operating under the Chief Minister's protection. We have estimated that some 800 to 1000 trucks carry sand from the Jindapur village every day, with each truck carrying about 800 feet of sand.

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It is also reported that this sand is sold for at least Rs 5 to somewhere around Rs 40. Hypocrite Channi Sahab has put up hoardings saying no ‘Reta Mafia’ would operate under his rule, while they are openly practicing illegal mining under his nose.” The AAP Punjab Co-incharge questioned the sitting CM, “I ask how long has this illegal mining been taking place under your protection? How much are you making off of this, and how many lacs is reaching you? How many such illegal mining bases are operating under your knowledge? How many such sites are running in the entirety of Punjab outside your constituency, where illegal mining is going on? Does Channi Saheb himself provide protection to the sand mining mafia? Does the CM and the ‘Reta Mafia’ have a partnership with each other? I hope Channi Sahib will answer our questions at the earliest.

I am citing this letter that the forest officer here had written to the SHO and Tehsildar a few days ago saying that illegal sand mining activity is taking place in a particular region in Jindapur Pind, and asked to put an end to it via this letter. It was clearly stated in the letter that this land comes under the forest department's authority and that no illegal activity can take place, especially mining. However, instead of any action being taken against the illegal mining, the forest officer who wrote this letter was transferred the very next day by the Channi Government. The SHO and Tehsildar did not take any action on this either.”