Ludhiana, April 21: The Jandiali Panchayat has come forward against former Sarpanch Dharam Singh, who had accused Punjab Cabinet Minister Hardeep Mundian of demanding ₹30 lakh in exchange for a Sarpanch election ticket. The Panchayat has lodged a complaint against Dharam Singh with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the Vigilance Bureau.
Dharam Singh has also served as the President of the village’s cooperative society for nearly 20 years. The Jandiali Panchayat has demanded that the Chief Minister order a Vigilance inquiry into all development works undertaken in the village during Dharam Singh’s tenure as Sarpanch. Furthermore, they have called for a Vigilance investigation into the operations of the village’s cooperative society.
He Wants to Seize Control of the Village Cooperative Society: Sarpanch
Gagandeep Singh, the current Sarpanch of Jandiali, leveled serious allegations against Dharam Singh, stating that he intends to seize control of the village’s cooperative society; this, he argued, is the reason Dharam Singh has leveled false accusations against the Minister. He aims to divert public attention away from the issue of the cooperative society.
Current Panchayat Members Level These Allegations Against Dharam Singh
- Attempt to Seize Control of the Cooperative Society: Jandiali’s current Sarpanch, Gagandeep Singh, stated that former Sarpanch Dharam Singh is attempting to seize control of the village’s cooperative society. He has maintained a stranglehold on the committee for nearly 20 years and has refused to conduct elections. When the time finally came for elections, he leveled baseless allegations against the Minister.
- Multiple Cases Registered Against Dharam Singh: Gagandeep Singh alleged that four to five criminal cases (FIRs) are registered against Dharam Singh across various police stations. He further claimed that a case under the NDPS Act has also been registered against Dharam Singh. The Sarpanch pointed out that the very land which the former Sarpanch claims is being encroached upon actually houses a showroom belonging to his own family.
- Elections Scheduled During Wheat Harvest Season: Gagandeep Singh stated that, in his bid to seize control of the society, Dharam Singh deliberately scheduled the elections at a time when farmers are fully occupied with the wheat harvest. Consequently, the Panchayat is currently opposing the holding of elections at this juncture. Complaint Sent to Vigilance and CM’s Office: Gagandeep Singh stated that this family served as the village Sarpanch for several years, yet no development work was carried out during their tenure. No accounts regarding the activities of the Panchayat and the society were ever presented. Consequently, he has lodged a complaint regarding this matter with the Chief Minister and the Vigilance Department.