Amarinder finally returns to Punjab

Shambu, Patiala, May 2 (UNI) After staying away from Punjab for almost a month and a half, former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh finally returned to his home state, that he had ruled for five years from 2002 to February this year.

Capt Singh who was ousted from power by the SAD-BJP in the February assembly polls was received at the Shamdu barrier on NH-I by his supporters in the Congress. However only 16 of the 44 Congress MLAs turned up to receive the 'Maharaja', who stood atop an open jeep and waved to his supporters.

State Congress chief Shamsher Singh Dullo and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal were however conscpicious by their absence. The two leaders did not go to New Delhi on April nine to 'welcome' Capt Singh when he returned from the UK.

Capt Singh after taking oath as a member of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on March 15, had left the state and then gone to the UK. He claimed that he had gone abroad for health reasons.

It was while he was abroad that the SAD-BJP slapped a case of corruption against Capt Singh, his Cabinet colleague Choudhry Jagjit Singh and 16 others in the multi crore Ludhiana City Centre scam.

Incidentally the probe in the scam was ordered by Capt Singh himself last year after the SAD-BJP alleged that money running into crores had 'exchanged hands', causing huge losses to the state exchequer.

Capt Singh has claimed the case slapped against him was a part of the political vendetta unleashed by the SAD-BJP government headed by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. The former chief minister has claimed that he had been framed in the case as he had ordered an inquiry into the disproportionate assets of Mr Badal and his family members during his tenure. The case against the Badals is now being heard by a Special Court of Ropar.

While the Punjab Vigilance Bureau has arrested four persons in case, it is yet to lay its hands on Capt Singh, as he has secured anticipatory bail till July from the Punjab and Haryana High court that had however directed him to join in the investigations.

Mr Dullo and Mrs Bhattal have also asked the former chief minister to join the investigations and proove his innocence.

Mr Badal on his part has denied 'witch hunting' of political opponents and has claimed that the Ludhiana City Centre case was registered after an investigation by the Vigilance Bureau.

UNI