Captain must visit sand mafia affected areas adjoining hills to know the exact Situation- Bhagwant Mann

Chandigarh, March 11, 2018

The president of Aam Aadmi Party and MP Sangrur, Bhagwant Mann on Saturday advised chief minister Capt. Amarinder Singh to visit the most sand mafia affected areas from Pathankot to Dera Bassi to know the exact situation of illegal mining happening in the state. In a press statement, Bhagwant Mann said that the areas adjoining hills are word affected and the CM should take action against the people involved in illegal mining in these areas as well.

Mann said that earlier the kins of Akali leaders were involved in illegal mining and after the formation of Congress Govt. in state the Congress leaders have taken charge of it Hundreds of stone crushers can be seen working on the banks of river Ghaggar, Satluj, and Beas without any interruption. The people of these areas are being threatened by mafia for raising voice against them.

AAP president said that the Govt. must also clear its stand on the reports of removal of Shiv Chand Tikka from the post of member Wildlife protection Board for raising voice against sand mafia as the close aide of the CM, Deepinder Singh Bharatgarh claims that through notification No. 1/7/2000 FT-5/1179967/1 dated 7/3/2018 he was appointed member of Wildlife protection Board in place of Tikka. Mann asked Capt. If he wants to ‘shoot the messenger’ for raising his voice against mafia in the state. He said that the action

against Tikka whom Capt. himself appointed member of the board on June 7, 2017 was taken for doing his job with sincerity and taking name of the son-in-law of Punjab Vidhan Sabha speaker Rana K.P. Singh. Mann slid that till now among the all members of board only Tikka has given his suggestions for the protection of wildlife and ecology in Punjab and he was removed for speaking truth. He said that he will raise the issue in upcoming session of Lok Sabha.