Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Tuesday accused his predecessor Captain Amarinder Singh of allotting prime land of the waqf board to gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari’s sons when he was CM.
Mann was addressing the media on the sidelines of a police programme in Chandigarh. Responding to a question regarding his decision to “recover Rs 55 lakh spent on keeping Ansari in Punjab’s Ropar jail” from Amarinder and then jails minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, he alleged that the former CM’s son Raninder had a close connection with Mukhtar Ansari.
“Captain is repeatedly claiming that he didn’t know Ansari but it is surprising that besides ensuring a cosy stay for the gangster in jail, Captain’s government facilitated Ansari in securing prime land in Ropar,” said Mann.
“I dare Captain to explain how Ansari’s sons — Abbas and Umar — managed to get prime land of waqf board in Ropar? It is not possible without Captain’s connivance,” he further said, adding that he can furnish more proof in the coming days of Amarinder “hobnobbing” with Ansari.
He also said that his government will get the land deal probed.
ThePrint reached Captain Amarinder Singh through messages, but did not get a response. The article will be updated once a response is received.
However, his close aides told ThePrint he will soon be holding a press conference over the issue.
On Monday, Amarinder had termed Mann’s statement to recover Rs 55 lakh as “foolish“, adding that his “inexperience” as chief minister was reflected in his decision. Randhawa said that he would take legal recourse after Mann issued an official order in this regard to his chief secretary.
Amarinder was Punjab’s CM from 2017 to 2021. In September 2021, he was forced to resign as CM under pressure from the Congress high command. Randhawa was his jails minister. Randhawa continues to be in the Congress, while \Amarinder has since joined the BJP.
Ansari stayed in the Ropar jail from January 2019 to April 2021.
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‘Epicurean monarch’
Mann also said that since Ansari’s stay in Punjab jail was “illegal and indefensible”, the fees paid to lawyers to defend Punjab’s claim over Ansari would have to be paid from the pocket of the two leaders.
The UP government had approached the Supreme Court in September 2021 seeking Ansari’s transfer to the state. Punjab had opposed the transfer.
Training his guns on Amarinder, Mann said that before feigning ignorance over Ansari’s issue, the BJP leader must ask his son, Raninder Singh.
He said that Raninder had met Ansari time and again but it is surprising that Captain is trying to mislead people with lies.
Mann said that Ansari was taken from UP to Punjab for “VVIP treatment in jail”, adding that when the UP police approached the Supreme Court for his custody, the Punjab government hired advocates at exorbitant rates to shield him.
The chief minister said Amarinder was an “epicurean monarch” who always remained away from the people without bothering about the duty bestowed to him by people.
He further said that Amarinder had failed to perform his duty as an MLA, MP and even as chief minister.
(Edited by Anumeha Saxena)
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