Punjab BJP President Levels Serious Allegations Against AAP Government
In a significant political development, Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar has launched a multi-pronged attack against the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government, alleging corruption in public transport operations, a secret understanding with the opposition Congress, and massive irregularities in the state's mining sector.
Allegations of PRTC Bus Painting Scam
Speaking to mediapersons in Chandigarh on Thursday, Jakhar made startling revelations about Punjab Road Transport Corporation buses. He claimed that PRTC buses are being transported approximately 500 kilometers away to Palsana in Sikar district of Rajasthan for body fabrication and painting in AAP party colors.
"This appears to be a new scam involving both old and new players," Jakhar asserted. "While the government is organizing investment summits in the state, at the same time, it is sending buses to Rajasthan for painting instead of doing it locally here in Jalandhar."
The BJP leader specifically named two firms that he claimed are carrying out the painting work. He alleged that "the same people are involved in this company whose firm installed bus bodies during the previous Congress government." Jakhar demanded immediate clarification from the government about whose financial interests are being served through this arrangement.
Secret Understanding Between AAP and Congress
Jakhar further accused the ruling AAP and opposition Congress of "creating drama through mutual coordination" in the Punjab Assembly to divert public attention from real issues affecting the state.
"Congress and AAP have a secret understanding," he claimed. "Under this arrangement, the opposition avoids questioning the government on public issues and instead keeps staging walkouts, while the ruling party continues passing resolutions that have no connection with public welfare."
The BJP president highlighted the government's failure to follow through on legislation regarding religious sacrilege. "During the July 2025 session, a special session was called to make a law regarding religious sacrilege, but even after six months, the government failed to approve a draft of the law," he pointed out.
Jakhar emphasized the ongoing injustice in cases of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib, noting that "because of this, two governments already changed and a third may change, yet the issue is still not on the government's agenda."
Exposing Mining Sector Irregularities
In a detailed expose of the state's mining operations, Jakhar released what he described as government data showing alarming discrepancies. According to his presentation:
- The state collected ₹21.70 crore in royalty from legal mining
- ₹79.29 crore was collected from fines imposed on illegal mining
- An additional ₹89.23 crore is shown as recovered, but its source remains unclear
"These figures clearly indicate that illegal mining is far greater than legal mining, and that too under the protection of the government," Jakhar declared.
He alleged systematic under-penalization of illegal mining activities, stating that while the National Green Tribunal mandates a ₹4 lakh fine for trucks caught in illegal mining, "the government is imposing fines of only ₹6,000."
The BJP leader revealed even more startling numbers: "The NGT imposed ₹180 crore in penalties on just 13 crushers, whereas there are more than 400 crushers in the state."
Jakhar concluded with a serious allegation that "the government is now bringing a law in the Assembly to override the NGT order so that the loot of Punjab's natural resources can continue." He accused authorities of settling illegal mining cases with minimal fines while the majority of proceeds disappear into unknown coffers.
The comprehensive allegations by the state BJP president have created significant political turbulence in Punjab, raising serious questions about governance, transparency, and the use of public resources in the state.
