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Report timing suspect

The Tribune investigation is an addition to an earlier such report that was published about two years ago. The paper has always been impartial on such matters. The facts given may be accurate. However, its timing is certainly suspect, which prompted Sukhbir to attack. It definitely affects their vote bank in the ongoing LS elections.

Harbhajan Singh Sarwara, Rajpura

Coverage impartial

I don’t agree with the views of AC Vashishth in his letter “Coverage Partial” (April 29). In fact, the election stories carried by The Tribune have been excellent. The presentation of the news is beautiful as one finds stories of all political parties, including the Aam Admi Party, getting equal space. By carrying the investigative reports, the paper has done a commendable job.

Ravinder Kumar Jain, Ludhiana

Open secret documented

I appreciate The Tribune for exposing the reasons, factors and practices leading to the phenomenal growth of the business interests of the Badal family. This open secret has been factually documented by the paper. Even Sukhbir Badal found it impossible to contradict it and he, rather, tried to accuse The Tribune of being a Congress agent. Sand, restaurants, hotels, electronic media and real estate businesses in the state have been hijacked by the Badal family. If the Badals do not mend ways, the people will not forgive then.

Dr Vitull K. Gupta, Bathinda

Unethical politics-biz

This is in reference to the report “The Tribune refutes SAD chief’s charges” by Editor-in-Chief Raj Chengappa (April 29). Everyone in Punjab knows that the Badal-Kairon- Majithia clan controls the transport, sand and gravel, cable TV network, TV channel network and drug businesses. They also know that the Badals have misused their position and government workforce to promote the businesses. The Tribune has only brought out the documentary facts. If the business of Badals was well accounted for and based on merit, why did they not make it public? Why were terms and conditions altered and tailormade to suit their companies? It is a well-established political wisdom and ethic that business and politics can never go parallel.

Capt Amar Jeet Kumar, Mohali

60% return on capital!

The investigative report done by your paper was excellent. Here are a couple of observations: (1) If the reports are true, the return on investment is about 14% annualised since 2007. The return on capital is about 60% annualised, considering the inflation and the depreciation costs. (2) The people of Punjab either do not know maths, or they are comfortable with status quo. With these kind of returns, I sure would like to have connections with the Badals, their relatives and cronies.

Rajinder Singh, Turlock (California)

Take suo motu notice

The Tribune buzz on the business interests of the ruling Badals-Majithias-Kairons combine is appreciable and the attack on the staffer Devinder Pal is deplorable. Such cowardly acts to suppress the Press’ voice can’t sustain for long. The politicians, being public servants, are answerable to the people on how they have amassed such huge wealth.

Secondly, if lawmakers become lawbreakers, who will bell them? In a democratic set-up, the government must be above suspicion like Caesar’s wife. The Governor must take suo motu cognisance of the matter and take action against the wrong-doers, howsoever powerful they may be.

Bharpur Chand Gupta & Bharat Kumar Jethi, Khanna

State interest ignored

People are not concerned with how much money the Badal family has. Rather, they are more concerned on the ways and means adopted in amassing this wealth, how rules were moulded and fabricated to suit them. As is evident from the investigative series, they have always put personal interests above the State and its people.

Even a blind man can evaluate why there is less motor vehicle tax on luxury buses than the ordinary buses.

Resentment expressed by the Deputy CM on these reports is disgusting. In a democratic set-up, freedom of the press cannot be suppressed.

LALIT SEHGAL, via email

No probe, it’s co. portfolio

Congratulations for the investigation of the ‘Badal group of companies’. I would hesitate to call it an investigation as it does not deal with hidden assets or any illegal business by the said companies. This is the insight of ‘portfolios’ of the companies held by the Badals, Kairons and Majithias in the main domain, as junior Badal claims.

The statement of Sukhbir Badal is an attack on the freedom of the press.

Shinder Mdahar, England

State coffers looted

I am shocked that Sukhbir Badal has accused of The Tribune being a “mouthpiece of the Congress.” I am a reader of The Tribune since 1965 and find its reporting unbiased. It is shameful that works related to the industry, power and sugar mills in the state have been distributed among the Badals and their family. Even the prestigious transport and TV channel businesses are in their pockets.

While Punjab is under debt of thousands of crore rupees and is unable to pay salaries to its employees in time and is facing hardships in releasing the DA instalments, the Badal-Kairon-Majithia clan is looting the state coffers with impunity. They are making a fool of the people by promising them employment opportunities and making a power-surplus state. The fact is that the youth are being murdered by being lured into drug addiction by the politicians-bureaucrats-businessmen-police mafia. The people will teach them a lesson.

R K KAPOOR, Chandigarh

Now, probe liquor vends

Apropos the investigative reports on the Badal family, it is sad that the people of Punjab have not turned to an alternative government all these years and are falling prey to liquor, drugs and mafia. The Tribune should also make an effort to expose the increasing number of liquor vends in Punjab.

Birinder, via email