Punjab Minister Steps Down Amid Official's Suicide Probe
In a significant political development, Punjab Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar resigned from his position on Saturday. This action came after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann directed him to step down, following the tragic suicide of a state warehousing corporation official in Amritsar. The incident has sparked a wave of allegations and calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the official's death.
Chief Minister Ensures Fair Investigation
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann clarified that Bhullar was asked to resign to facilitate an impartial probe into the matter. Mann emphasized that no negligence would be tolerated and announced that Bhullar's portfolios, including transport and prisons, would be reassigned. He stated, "Before conducting the probe, we took resignation from our cabinet minister so that no one could influence the probe or could put any pressure." This move aims to uphold transparency and accountability within the state government.
Allegations and Social Media Video Surface
The resignation follows the emergence of a video on social media, where Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, a manager with the warehousing corporation, claimed to have consumed a poisonous substance. In the video, Randhawa accused Bhullar of harassment. Randhawa, who also held the additional charge of Patti, was found dead, with reports indicating he died by suicide after consuming Celphos. Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia alleged that Randhawa named Bhullar before his death, citing pressure to admit accepting a Rs 10 lakh bribe and manipulation of tenders.
Political Reactions and Calls for Justice
Opposition leaders have weighed in on the issue, with Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa describing the allegations as serious and urging the Chief Justice of the Punjab & Haryana High Court to take suo motu cognisance. Bajwa highlighted Randhawa's claims of assault and coercion. In response, Bhullar, the MLA from Patti in Tarn Taran, denied the allegations as baseless and called for a proper investigation. He stated in a Facebook post, "Until this investigation is completed, I request the party and our chief minister to accept my resignation from the minister's post."
Probe Ordered and Future Steps
Chief Minister Mann has directed the chief secretary to conduct a detailed probe into the allegations. The investigation will examine the reasons behind Randhawa's suicide and the veracity of the claims against Bhullar. This development underscores the government's commitment to addressing corruption and ensuring justice in sensitive cases involving public officials.
