Hooch tragedy: Amarinder Singh calls Kejriwal's CBI probe demand a 'political gimmick'

Hitting back at Arvind Kejriwal's call for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the hooch tragedy, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday asked his Delhi counterpart to not exploit the tragic affair for reviving his Aam Aadmi Party’s fortunes in the state.

Earlier in the day, Kejriwal said that over the last few months, none of the cases involving the sale of spurious liquor has been solved by the local police. The Punjab government needs to take immediate steps to curb such mafias, he tweeted.

Responding to this, a Punjab government release quoted Captain Amarinder Singh saying, "So many people have died and all you are interested in is making political meat from the incident. Don’t you have any shame?” He asked Kejriwal to concentrate on maintaining law and order in his own state, which "was notorious for the brazen manner in which criminals and gangs were roaming the streets without fear".

Expressing full faith in Punjab police, the CM said Kejriwal’s demand for a CBI probe was nothing, but a political gimmick aimed at regaining lost foothold for his party, which had completely lost ground in Punjab despite being the principal opposition party.

READ | Punjab Police Nabs 17 More People In Hooch Tragedy, Total 25 People Arrested

READ | Punjab Hooch Tragedy: Kejriwal Demands CBI Probe In Sale Of Illicit Liquor That Killed 86

Govt takes action

Amarinder Singh on Saturday ordered the suspension of, and inquiry against, seven Excise & Taxation Officers and Inspectors, along with two DSPs and four SHOs of Punjab Police, in connection with the hooch tragedy, which has so far claimed 86 lives in the three districts of Tarn Taran, Amritsar Rural and Gurdaspur.

He has also announced Rs 2 lakhs ex-gratia compensation to each of the families of the deceased, most of whom are from Tarn Taran, which accounts for 63 deaths, followed by Amritsar Rural 12 and Gurdaspur (Batala) 11.

A magisterial inquiry by the Divisional Commissioner, Jalandhar, into the deaths of people allegedly due to the consumption of illicit liquor has been ordered.

The CM has promised strict action against anyone found complicit in the case and directed police to launch a search operation to crack down on any spurious liquor manufacturing unit operating in the state.

(With inputs from agencies)

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READ | Punjab Hooch Tragedy:CM Amarinder Singh Announces Rs 2 Lakhs Ex-gratia For Kin Of Deceased