The unearthing of an illicit liquor factory at Rajpura on Tuesday in the home district of Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, and close links of the arrested persons with Rajpura MLA Hardial Kamboj, Ghanaur MLA Madanlal Jalalpur and the Chief Minister's wife and Patiala MP Preneet Kaur proves that the illicit liquor has the patronage of the Capt. government. In a press conference held at party headquarters on Wednesday, Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Barnala and state Youth Wing president Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, said that the ruling Congress party ministers and MLAs were hand in glove with the liquor mafia calling the shots in the state. He informed that last night yet another liquor factory was unearthed at Rajpura , alleging that the accused Deepesh Kumar Grover and Karaj Singh who were arrested by the police were close associates of Congress MLA Hardial Kamboj, MLA Madanlal and MP Preneet Kaur.Hayer alleged that even during the lockdown, illegal liquor factories were busted from Rajpura in which Deepesh Grover's name had cropped up. He added that the accused is out on bail and again running illicit liquor trade because the government did not take action against its 'loyal' ones. The Barnala MLA said post his arrest in a liquor smuggling case, photos of Nirbhai Kamboj Milti and Deepesh Kumar Grover showing them participating in the farmers' dharna has come to light.
The youth leader said that the photos of the arrested accused with Congress President Sunil Jakhar and Chief Minister's OSD Sandeep Sandhu clearly indicated that the liquor smugglers were being offered cover from the Chief Minister's Office. He said that Capt. Amarinder Singh, who had promised to eradicate drugs within weeks swearing on Sri 'Gutka Sahib', has after assuming power started to protect the drug smugglers. He added that had Captain taken strict action against those illegally running liquor factories at Rajpura, hundreds of lives lost due to consumption of spurious liquor in the Majha would have been saved.The AAP MLA said that if Captain cannot dare to take action against his MLAs and OSDs, who are behind promoting liquor smuggling, he should step down as chief minister owning responsibility for the menace. He said that the fake illegal liquor factories being run under the government protection were responsible not only for 'killing' innocent people but also damaging the economy of the state. Hayer added that before the elections in 2017 Capt. Amarinder had promised to form a government loquor corporation but now has reneged on the promise to side with the mafia.The AAP MLA threatened Capt. Amarinder Singh that if the government led by him failed to initiate stringent action against the Congress MLAs and leaders, the Aam Aadmi Party would gherao Capt. Amarinder Singh and Preneet Kaur's palace.