Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann sacks Health Minister Vijay Singla on corruption charges, arrested

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said that even 1% corruption will not be tolerated in the AAP government as he sacked Health Minister Vijay Singla months after the party’s emphatic win in the Assembly polls.

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Tuesday sacked health minister Dr. Vijay Singla from his Cabinet on charges of corruption for seeking “1 per cent cut in tenders allotment and purchase of goods related to the department.” Following this, the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) of the Punjab police arrested Singla.

In the video message, Mann had said he directed the police to register a case against Singla. He said that Dr Singla had confessed to the crime to Mann himself. Mann also said that he wanted to convey the message of zero tolerance for corruption through this sacking.

He said, “A case was brought to my notice that a minister in my Cabinet was seeking 1 per cent commission for each tender and purchase-related to his department. Only I knew about this case, neither the media nor the Opposition had an idea about it. Had I wanted I would have covered it up. And had I done so, I would have not only failed my conscience but also the lakhs of people who trusted me. I am taking strong action against him. I am sacking him from my Cabinet and directing the Police to take action against him. He has confessed to this crime. “

The CM also said, “As you all know, we are an honest government. We will not tolerate corruption of even Rs 1. Whenever I used to go to people in villages, towns and cities, I saw hope in their eyes. I saw that they had a hope that there would be someone who would pull them out of corruption. When I was to be announced the chief ministerial face, AAP’s revolutionary chief Arvind Kejriwal had said that he would not tolerate bribery and corruption. I had promised him that we will run this government the same way. I assured him that we will not spare anyone involved in corruption.”

Mann went on to say that the AAP government would have zero tolerance for Singla’s corruption. This has happened for the second time in the country. In 2015, Kejriwal had sacked his Food and Civil Supplies Minister after a video of him seeking a bribe was shown to him. I want to tell everyone that I would not tolerate corruption of even Re 1. So, straighten yourself. We had taken an oath at martyr Bhagat Singh’s Khatkar Kalan village, we had promised that we would run a corruption-free government. This is a historic decision by AAP.”

Preempting criticism by the Opposition, Mann said, “The Opposition parties will say that AAP’s minister was found involved in corruption within two months of forming the government. But I want to tell them that I have taken an action and the Opposition did not even know about it. Their chief ministers have been saying that they knew their ministers were engaging in the mafia. Then why don’t they take any action against them? I have not only sacked my minister but also directed the police to take action against him. We will bring a change in the country.”

Mann had 10 ministers in this Cabinet. With the expulsion of Dr Singla, he is left with only nine ministers. As per the rules. Punjab can have 18 ministers including the chief minister.

Reacting to the CM’s decision, AAP leader Raghav Chadha said, “Aam Aadmi Party is the only party that has the integrity, courage & uprightness to take action against their own on grounds of corruption. We saw it in Delhi, now we are witnessing it in Punjab. Zero tolerance for corruption. Commendable decision by CM Bhagwant Mann.”