Punjab CM colluding with disruptive forces: Tarun Chugh

Chandigarh, Aug 12: BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh today said that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is colluding with disruptive forces to scuttle highway projects.

In a statement  Chugh took  a strong exception to the manner in which the Bhagwant Mann government  has allowed the lumpen elements and criminals to subvert the national highway projects in the state. “The law and order situation in Punjab had completely collapsed  due to which no development works are being undertaken,” he said.

The senior BJP leader said the National Highway Authority of India has already terminated three major projects worth Rs 3263 crores in the state which were supposed to cover 104 kms of highway in Punjab.

“Now other major projects like that of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway are also under threat due to unlawful elements having a free play in the state. There were eight other projects that the Centre wanted to undertake to cover 293 kms of highway at a cost of Rs 14,288 crore which are facing termination in view of the law and order situation in the state,” he said.

Chugh regretted that instead of unleashing a crackdown on disruptive elements the Bhagwant Mann government has been protecting and shielding them even at a time when the Centre was ready to contribute fairly to the development projects in Punjab.

He said it seemed that the AAP government was in collusion with the disruptive elements to ensure that no development projects are undertaken in the state.  Chugh demanded the chief minister to "behave responsibly to the people of the state and their welfare" instead of indulging in partisan politics.