Haryana govt plays games in name of SITs: Bhupinder Singh Hooda

Chandigarh, Aug 9 (IANS) Former Haryana two-time Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Tuesday sought a reply from the BJP-JJP coalition government on scams, including illegal mining.

However, the Chief Minister made it clear that the government is tough against illegal mining.

Raising an issue in the ongoing assembly session, he said the government is playing games in the name of Special Investigating team (SIT) and no action has been taken and no one is punished.

"So far, the government has talked about investigations in many cases, including illegal mining and liquor, but no report of investigation has come out. In the government, SIT does not mean 'Special Investigation Team' but means become 'Sitting Investigation on Table'," he said.

Speaking during the ongoing discussion on illegal mining, Hooda said he himself had visited the spot after the accident in Dadam (in Bhiwani) on January 1.

"It was clearly seen there that the mafia has carried out illegal mining fearlessness. Five laborers were killed in this disaster. The government had assured a probe by an SIT but many months have passed the investigation report has not come out till date. This clearly shows the intention of the government," he said.

Hooda said the state has seen a series of scams, from Amrit Yojana to government jobs, paper leak, electricity meter purchase, paddy purchase, millet purchase, roadways kilometer scheme, registry, liquor, sand of Yamuna to illegal mining of Aravalli Hills.

He said the government's investigation did not reach to its conclusion in any of the cases.

Replying to a calling attention motion moved by legislators on the second day of the monsoon session, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the revenue from mining has been Rs 4,660 crore from 2015-16 to 2021-22.

"Whereas during the tenure of the previous government from 2005 to 2014, only Rs 1,268 crore was received i.e. revenue of Rs 130 crore per year. However, about Rs 600 crore per year is received as revenue during the present government's tenure."

The Chief Minister was replying to the discussion to stop illegal mining after a police official was crushed to death by a dumper truck of a mining mafia in Nuh.

He said illegal mining has been banned during the tenure of the present government, which is evident from the revenue received by the government.

He said whenever any topic is discussed in the Vidhan Sabha, then according to the democratic system, the tenure of the present and previous governments is compared for the reality of the situation.

"This comparison is necessary because it only shows whether the situation was bad during the tenure of the previous government or it is bad today."

The Chief Minister said suggestions given by the MLAs in the House to help crack down on the mining mafia will definitely be considered. He said cracking down on illegal miners is a continuous process.

Talking about investigations in the death of a police officer Surender Singh in Nuh by a mining mafia, he said 11 people have been arrested.

Those who were hiding in Rajasthan have also been arrested.

"All are in judicial custody. 10 FIRs have been registered. No guilty will be spared."