The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, alleging that rampant illegal mining operations are continuing in Mohali district even after the registration of a formal police complaint. The party has demanded an immediate and independent probe into the matter.
Allegations of Unabated Activity and Official Complicity
Addressing the media, Vineet Joshi, the state media head of the BJP, claimed that illegal mining in Khizrabad village of the Majri block has not stopped. He stated that he first flagged the issue on November 8 and revisited the site on December 21, only to find the activity not just ongoing but expanded in scale. Joshi asserted he has dated photographic and video evidence from both visits to back his claims.
"What I witnessed reflects criminal governance. An FIR has been registered, yet illegal mining is going on openly and on a larger scale. Government action exists only on paper," Joshi alleged. He questioned the prolonged silence of the local legislator, Kharar MLA Anmol Gagan Mann, on the issue for over three and a half years.
Questions Over MLA's Role and Demand for Inquiry
The BJP leader posed a direct challenge to the AAP MLA's stance. "If the MLA is unaware, it points to shocking incompetence. If she is aware and still silent, it raises far more serious concerns," Joshi said. He further claimed, based on interactions with villagers, that money was being collected and distributed to buy silence and protection for the operations.
Joshi emphasized that the BJP is demanding answers and an independent investigation rather than making direct allegations. "The public has the right to ask whether the MLA is a mute spectator or whether her silence is benefiting someone politically," he added.
Accusations of Institutionalised Corruption
In a severe indictment of the state administration, the BJP leader alleged that the entire machinery meant to check such crimes has broken down. He accused local police officials, senior district officers, and mining authorities of either turning a blind eye or actively being complicit in the illegal activity.
"This is not mere negligence but institutionalised corruption under the Aam Aadmi Party government," Joshi stated. He warned that Punjab must not be allowed to become a "free-for-all mining zone under political protection."
The party has put forth a three-point demand: the immediate suspension of responsible officials, a time-bound independent investigation, and strict criminal action against all involved officials and their political patrons. The issue has set the stage for a fresh political confrontation in the state, with the BJP positioning itself as a watchdog against corruption in the mining sector.
