Sunam, July 31
The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, said today that the state government had details of properties acquired by former Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Parkash Singh Badal in various countries through “illegal” means and that action would be taken against him after completion of investigations into the matter.

Talking to newspersons after a rally organised to mark the martyrdom day of Shaheed Udham Singh, the Chief Minister said the government was collecting documentary evidence of the properties acquired by Mr Badal and his family members in India and abroad.

He said he had already listed properties owned by Mr Badal in his own name as well as “benami” properties in the USA, including parking lots and apartment blocks, and that collecting documentary evidence regarding these would take time. He said the government would take action against Mr Badal and his family members only after this process was completed.

Earlier, addressing the rally, the Chief Minister made it clear that his government would not stop its current drive against corruption despite protests from Mr Badal. Retorting allegations that his government had been selective in its action against the corrupt, he said the drive against corruption would be broadbased in future and all those who had “looted” the state in the past five years would be hauled up. He also claimed that Mr Badal was crying hoarse about alleged atrocities committed on former minister Sucha Singh Langah because he knew Langah had damming information about him which would come out if he continued to remain under police remand. He also ridiculed the charge of torture to Langah saying that “he was seen running like a horse on television”.

Capt Amarinder Singh said Mr Badal had made Langah a minister in his Cabinet even though it was known to everyone that he was a “common criminal” whose name was registered as a history-sheeter in police records. He said, “Tell me of one person in the SAD who has not taken money”, adding that the martyrs did not make the sacrifice for all this.

Earlier, addressing a camp organised by the Punjab Seva Dal under the presidentship of Mr Sanjeev Garg at Lakshmi Palace here, the Chief Minister lauded the Seva Dal for taking the initiative to distribute artificial limbs to the handicapped on the occasion. Mr Garg said the Seva Dal had started a programme in coordination with the state Red Cross to provide latest artificial limbs and other medical care to the underprivileged in the rural areas. He said limbs worth Rs 2.5 lakh and other helping aids would be distributed in the camp and other parts of the state would also be covered under the programme.

Capt Amarinder Singh earlier announced that the Rose Garden which had been established in the city by former Chief Minister Beant Singh would be provided more funds so that it could become a fitting tribute to the martyr. He also announced that the high rate of Rs 1,500 per square yard at which the Shaheed Udham Singh Educational Charitable Trust had been given land at Mohali would be reduced to Rs 500 per square yard. He also announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh from his discretionary quota for the construction of a school building.