In a dramatic turn of events, the current Chief Minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, and his predecessor, Charanjit Singh Channi, have engaged in a heated war of words over allegations of bribery involving a government job. The controversy unfolded when Mann gave Channi a deadline until May 31 to address the claims that his nephew demanded a whopping Rs 2 crore from a cricketer in exchange for a coveted position.
Taking to Twitter, Mann warned Channi that if he failed to disclose all relevant information, he would expose pictures and names to substantiate his accusations. In response, Channi dismissed the allegations, challenging Mann to provide evidence and even daring him to make an arrest if he had proof.
According to Mann, he was approached by a Punjab cricketer during his visit to Dharamshala, who revealed that he had applied for a government job under the sports quota. The cricketer alleged that Channi’s nephew had asked for a bribe of Rs 2 crore to secure the position. Mann asserted that the cricketer handed over Rs 2 lakh, only to be ridiculed by Channi’s nephew, who claimed that “two” meant Rs 2 crore, not Rs 2 lakh.
Channi vehemently denied the accusations, stating that he had never instructed anyone to meet his nephew for such purposes. He accused the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of a deliberate campaign to tarnish his image and vowed to face any legal repercussions. Channi also questioned the appropriateness of a chief minister issuing ultimatums to his predecessor on social media.
This latest controversy comes against the backdrop of Channi already facing a Vigilance Bureau probe into allegations of disproportionate assets. He previously accused Mann’s regime of engaging in vendetta politics. Channi also highlighted the ongoing failures of the AAP government in delivering justice in sacrilege cases, aiming to shift public attention to other pressing matters.
As the May 31 deadline looms, Punjab remains engulfed in this political storm. The citizens eagerly await further developments and the revelation of any concrete evidence supporting the allegations or vindicating Channi’s claims. Only time will tell if the truth behind this high-profile job scandal will be unearthed and if accountability will prevail in the state’s political landscape.