‘Rinku bought land in illegal colony’

Aparna Banerji 

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 20 

After seeking action against Congress MLA Sushil Rinku for stalling the MC's demolition drive and having posted images and videos of alleged illegal colonies in the city, BJP activists Amit Taneja and Shetal Angural on Wednesday alleged that Rinku had bought his own land in one such colony.

The MLA, however, termed the allegations baseless and said he was ready to face action if the government found the allegations made by the duo against him true. 

Alleging that the MLA had two plots in his wife’s name in an illegal colony near Babu Jagjeevan Chowk, Taneja and Angural, addressing the media, showed copies of two alleged registries of plots in the said colony — it bore a picture and name of the MLA’s wife.

While Angural is the general secretary of the BJP SC Morcha, Amit Taneja is the former state head of the BJP’s social media cell. 

Demanding action against illegal colonisers, they had also submitted a list of 20 illegal colonies — many listed by Sidhu as well — to MC Joint Commissioner Shikha Bhagat on Tuesday. 

Demanding the cancellation of his Vidhan Sabha membership, the BJP leaders demanded that the state Congress and the CM should answer the allegations made by them against the MLA. 

Taneja said, “We have a question that being an MLA, why he is investing in an illegal colony. He should ensure that there should be no revenue loss to the government.” 

Responding to the allegations, Rinku said, “These are baseless allegations. I am ready for any action if the charges are proven. They are free to complaint wherever they want. It's not even an issue worth commenting.”

Rinku said he was hurt by Sidhu's comments. 

Speaking on the move to uphold the one-time settlement policy by Sidhu, the MLA said, “I welcome the decision. I have no fight with the minister. I climbed atop the JCB not to become a hero or rake up an issue. To uphold the one-time settlement policy was my demand from day one.” 

On skipping the meeting with the minister on Wednesday, Rinku said, “I was busy. I have only one issue that the language used by the minister for me was not nice. A leader like him should have not used such a language for a colleague.”