SAYS NO PICK AND CHOOSE IN TIRADE AGAINST CORRUPTION
Reiterating the zero tolerance policy of his government against corruption, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that no officer or politician, however affluent he may be, involved in this heinous crime against humanity will be spared. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Raman Arora from Jalandhar Central was arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on charges of corruption early Thursday morning. The arrest followed a raid at his residence in Ashok Nagar around 8:45 AM. According to officials, Arora was intercepted near a temple close to his home while he was leaving, and was then escorted back for a search operation.
Vigilance officials carried out a detailed search of the house and, upon reportedly gathering solid evidence, took Arora into custody. His personal assistant was also reportedly detained, although the Bureau has not officially confirmed this. A separate Vigilance team also searched the house of Arora’s relative, Raju Madan, in Basti Guja, but returned empty-handed as the house was locked.
This action stems from an ongoing investigation into corruption in the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation. Arora’s name emerged during the probe of ATP (Assistant Town Planner) Sukhdev Vashisht, a close aide of the MLA, who was arrested recently. Officials allege that Arora was involved in issuing official notices to citizens through the municipal body and later accepting bribes to cancel them. An FIR has already been registered in this case.
In a message to the people, the Chief Minister said that today’s action is once again a clear message that there is no pick and choose in this tirade against corruption. He said that mere affiliation to the ruling party or the opposition does not give license of corruption to the officer or leader adding that the government will take exemplary action against such people. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that any sort of involvement in corruption cannot be tolerated and no mercy will be adopted against a person indulged in this sin.
The Chief Minister said that they assumed the charge of office in 2022 and since then a crusade against corruption has been launched. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that they had given guarantee to people that corruption in the echelons of the government will not be tolerated and severest of severe action will be taken against those involved in it. He categorically said that over the termite of corruption has made the system hollow as those involved in this crime had mercilessly plundered taxpayer’s money.
The Chief Minister said that this fight is against the corrupt system and not any single individual adding that it will continue till it is not eliminated completely. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government cannot be a mute spectator of open loot of traders and shopkeepers by those misusing their power and blackmailing of innocents along with extortion of money from them by powerful politicians in connivance with the officers is intolerable.
Exhorting the people to be an integral part of the anti-corruption drive, the Chief Minister said that the government will take action on the complaints lodged by them against corrupt elements. He said that if anyone harasses or creates inordinate delay or obstacles in their work for corrupt motives, the common man should come forward and complain against them adding that the state government will take decisive action against them. “For us corrupt is corrupt, whether ours or others, and I promise you anyone whose hands are drenched in corruption will not be spared by my government”, added Bhagwant Singh Mann.