Amarinder admits to have written a letter to Sonia Gandhi

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Press Trust of India Chandigarh
Last Updated : Jan 13 2014 | 5:07 PM IST
Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today admitted that he had written a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi but refused to disclose its content, raising speculations whether he had mentioned the state party chief's alleged involvement in drug rackets.
Responding to reports in a section of media that he had complained against Punjab Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa's links with drug rackets and terror modules, Singh said, "Yes I have written a letter to Congress head Sonia Gandhi some 18 months ago, which is July 2012. I will not discuss the letter as it is confidential in nature."
"I don't know how this letter has come to a few newspapers," Singh told reporters here.
He also reiterated his stand that the ongoing probe into the multi-crore drug scam in Punjab should not be transferred to the CBI. "If the case is handed over to the CBI it will further delay the investigation," he said.
Singh, however, clarified he did not want Bajwa to be replaced as state unit chief. "It's (to replace Bajwa or not) a decision that has to be taken by Sonia Gandhi," he said.
On the issue of adopting a different line from the state party unit that had been demanding a CBI probe into the drug case, the former Chief Minister said, "The state Congress's decision is as per party's policies." He, however, said that he can have "personal views."
"Whatever the state unit wants to do it can do, but I am opposed to the CBI probe into the drug case," he said.
Asked about the state unit's announcement of a series of programmes in the wake of accusation levelled by a drug smuggler that Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia is involved into the trade, Singh said, "I will participate in the agitations announced by the state unit."
Meanwhile, Bajwa had refused to comment on the issue of letter written by Singh.
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First Published: Jan 13 2014 | 5:07 PM IST

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