AAP stages walkout over minister Ashu’s involvement in multi-crore Ludhiana housing scam

Chandigarh, February 25

Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) MLAs on Monday, under the leadership of LoP Harpal Singh Cheema, staged a walkout from the Assembly on the alleged involvement of cabinet minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu in the multi-crore Grand Manor Homes scam, amid sloganeering.

As the Question Hour session kicked off, Cheema raised the issue of the multi-crore scam involving the minister, referring to the minister threats reportedly directed at the investigating officials. He demanded the resignation of the minister who, he said, was in league with the land mafia. He sought permission to play the phone recordings on the floor of the House, which was declined by the Speaker.

While AAP MLAs were raising slogans against the government, Panchayat Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa appealed to the protesting MLA to raise the Grand Manor Homes issue, what he described as serious, to raise it during the Zero Hour.

When Ashu offered to reply to clear the air about his alleged role in the scam , the protesting members returned to their seats. The minister offered to face any inquiry constituted by the House. Upon this AAP Kharar MLA Kanwar Sandhu, expressing his satisfaction over the minister’s plea on facing any inquiry, said the minister should tender his resignation so that a fair inquiry could be carried out.

Addressing media persons in the press gallery, Cheema and Sarvjit Kaur Manuke, Dy LoP showed documentary evidences of the scam, which they said, suggested involvement of the minister in the scam. Cheema later showed phone recordings of the minister directing threats investigating team.

When the AAP MLAs again broached the issue during the Zero Hour, chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh assured that the next action would be taken on receipt of the committee report. The MLAs were not satisfied with the reply, which left them with no option but to stage a walk out.