He was inexplicably sacked from the post of health minister of Punjab about two months ago on corruption charges. Now, Dr. Vijay Singla is back in his constituency Mansa to undo the damage to his political career. Aam Aadmi Party (You) is letting her be.
Singla has been meeting people and holding a public meeting in Mansa since he was released on bail last week following an order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on July 8. On Thursday, the AAP leader had gone to Musa village to meet the singer’s father. Sidhu Musewala Whom he defeated by more than 63 thousand votes in the assembly elections held earlier this year. Musewala, who contested the election on a Congress ticket, was shot dead on May 29 near Jawaharke village.
Posting pictures from his meeting with Moosewala’s father Balkaur Singh, Singla wrote on social media, “He (Sidhu Moosewala) shone like a star in the short span of his career. May God give strength to his family to bear this untimely death.”
Since his release, the 52-year-old former health minister has been meeting people in the area regularly. On Wednesday, he addressed a public meeting in Mansa city while performing a show of strength. He told the audience, “After winning, I had the honor of becoming the health minister of Punjab and worked 18 hours a day.” “During that period, there were many promotions and transfers…many tenders were done and sales were bought. I acted with utmost sincerity and AAP’s policy is to put honesty above all. I will prove this to anyone. I challenge my family, relatives or I to take even one rupee from anyone. All the work was done honestly.
Singla is accused of demanding “one percent commission” in tenders and purchases by his department and was arrested on May 24 under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
On Thursday, AAP leaders attended the bhog ceremony (last prayer) of some people of Mansa. Singla has said that he is a “loyal soldier” of this party, adding, “I will continue to work honestly for the people… I am part of the government and I hope to come out clean.”
Some residents of Mansa want to look beyond the allegations leveled against the former minister. “People are meeting him easily and he has no complaints from him. Mansa got a minister for the first time and he too was sacked after two months.. We need development of the area and this is our primary concern.’
Another person said, ‘Apart from just showing honesty and making rhetoric, this government also needs to work at the ground level. Online registration of vehicles is an old project re-announced. That’s why we believe that experienced faces should be made part of the cabinet instead of freshers. The new health minister is a Class 12 graduate, while two doctors in the cabinet have been given the charge of social security and local government departments.
AAP said it has nothing to do with Singla’s political activities. “He is a local MLA and can go to his constituency,” party spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang said. “With regard to his corruption case, the matter is sub-judice and the law will take its course. He was sacked as a cabinet minister as the party does not spare anyone who indulges in corruption.
Kang said people have the right to defend themselves. Another party insider said, “Since he is an MLA and out on bail, he has a right to be among the public. Let the charges be framed against him.”