M A I N   N E W S

NDA team to visit Punjab: Dhindsa
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 19
A day after officials of the special investigation team (SIT) questioned the former Chief Minister and SAD chief, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, the Union Minister and party representative at the Centre, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, today exerted pressure on the BJP-led NDA government to send a team to the state to stop the ‘witch-hunt’ against Akali leaders.

Talking to The Tribune, the Union Minister expressed optimism that a fact-finding team would be sent to Punjab at the earliest as the Amarinder government had let ‘loose’ the investigative agencies to nab Akali leaders in ‘false’ and ‘fabricated’ cases.

Mr Dhindsa said he had held discussions with the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and the Defence Minister. Mr George Fernandes, who had assured that a coalition team would soon be sent to Punjab to assess the situation. The NDA meeting is scheduled to be held on Saturday where the final decision would be taken.

Demand for sending NDA team ‘political’
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 19
The Congress today said that “political twist” was sought to be given to the ongoing investigation into corruption cases in Punjab with the demand to send an NDA team to the state.

The Congress spokesman, Mr Anand Sharma said that corruption was a major issue in the Punjab elections and the Congress had promised to provide a clean administration. “Pandora’s box was opened by the investigation into the PPSC scam,” he said.

Mr Sharma said that investigation against corruption was an ongoing process and attempts should not be made to interfere in it.

The spokesman said that the party was not questioning the right of the NDA to send a team. “But it was not the job of politicians to inquire into the matter relating to corruption. It is better left to the agencies concerned,” Mr Sharma said, adding that the claims of innocence would be proved after investigation.

He dismissed allegations of political vendetta, saying that the agencies concerned were doing their job.

Meanwhile, Union Chemicals and Fertiliser Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa today demanded that the NDA government should send a fact-finding team to Punjab and get a first-hand account of the “witch-hunt” launched by the state government against the Akali leaders.