ANANDPUR SAHIB: Punjab Chief Minister Harcharan Singh Brar has called for an inquiry into “amassing of property worth several crores” by Akali Dal (Badal) president Parkash Singh Badal and his family.

Addressing a gathering at the three-day Holla Mohalla festival, the Chief Minister said the Akali leaders had misused power, let down the people and misguided youth.

Mr. Brar also sought public apology from Akali leaders charging them of being responsible for the death of 25,000 people in militancy related violence.

Mr. Brar said the recent Punjab and Haryana High Court judgment dismissing the right of Mr, Badal’s son over an 18 acre plot of land worth Rs 100 crore in Gurgaon was a clear example of the huge wealth amassed by the Akali leader and his family during his political career.

Alleging that the entire political career of Mr: Badalwas~marked~by~ corruption, he said the Chhajani Commission had held Mr. Badal guilty of corruption.

Even his party colleague Jagdev Singh Talwandi had in 1980 accused him of his involvement in 50 corruption cases, he added.

Mr, Brar alleged that Mr, Badal by taking Rs 2 crore from former Haryana Chief Minister Devi Lal and his party colleague Surjit Singh Barnala for completing 90% work of the controversial Sutlej Yamuna link canal in Punjab had complicated the Ravi Beas ‘waters issue.

The Chief Minister said his government had resolved not to give a single drop of water to Haryana from these waters.

Launching a frontal attack on SGPC president Gurcharan Singh Tohra, the Chief Minister accused Mr. Tohra of destroying Punjab and the Sikh community.

He said Mr. Tohra was not only misusing Gurdwara funds but had also led several youth astray, causing irretrievable damage to the State.

He charged the BJP and the BSP with creating a wedge between the people and propagating “communal and casteist policies.”

He said his government would not let any party to disturb the hard won peace in the State, and any attempt to formant trouble would be curbed with a heavy hand.

On his government’s achievements, Mr, Brar said farmers benefited from the various concessions and the industrial sector attracted Rs 25,000 crore worth of investments.

The historic festival at the Gurdwara Takhat Keshgarh Sahib here, in Ropar district, about 80km from Chandigarh, saw leaders of various political parties leveling charges against each other, in view of the coming Lok Sabha polls.

Akali leader Mr, Gurcharan Singh: Tohra, in his address appealed to all Akali factions to join the Akali Dal led by Mr, Badal and sort out their differences through discussions.

Article extracted from this publication >>  March 13, 1996