Patiala: The Power Sector Joint Action Committee (PS JAC) on Wednesday wrote to chief minister Bhagwant Mann, seeking removal of power minister Sanjeev Arora over an alleged conflict of interest and ongoing probe into family-linked real estate firms.The letter, signed by power engineer Ajay Pal Singh Atwal, secretary of the Joint Action Committee, contended that some of the real estate firms under investigation were owned, operated or managed by a close family member of the minister. It said the power minister oversaw the sale of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) properties under the govt’s Optimum Utilisation of Vacant Govt Lands (OUVGL) scheme, and argued that his continued hold over the department posed a direct conflict between private interests and public duties.“Allowing the incumbent power minister to hold charge of the department, where he is also supervising the sale of PSPCL properties, may hamper neutrality and erode public trust in the administration,” the letter stated. The committee also alleged that the sale of PSPCL properties was carried out while ignoring objections raised by state trade unions and associations.Invoking principles of integrity, probity in public life and administrative accountability, the PS JAC urged the CM to reassign the department portfolio to another minister in the larger interest of the state and the public.A copy of the letter was also forwarded to Punjab governor Gulab Chand Kataria.The PS JAC is a platform comprising multiple associations, including the PSEB Engineers’ Association, Council of Junior Engineers, Bijli Mulajam Sangrashsheel Morcha, Accounts Cadre Association, Pensioners’ Association, IT Officers’ Association, HR Officers’ Association and the Admin Officers’ Welfare Association.The minister could not be reached for comment despite several attempts.MSID:: 130443869 413 |
