Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi conducted a late-night inspection in the Nakodar area of Jalandhar district, where he filmed ongoing sand extraction activities along the banks of the Sutlej River. Carrying a video camera after midnight, the senior Congress leader targeted the local sand operations, intercepting several loaded trucks and confronting laborers working at the mining site. During the operation, he directly accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of supporting the unauthorized trade, alleging that state authorities are permitting illegal extractions to continue unchecked across the region.
Midnight Operation Along the Sutlej River
The inspection focused on the Sutlej riverbed in Nakodar, a prominent hub for sand extraction in Jalandhar. Charanjit Singh Channi physically intercepted vehicles transporting sand and questioned the workers engaged in overnight digging. Addressing the situation on location, he stated that hundreds of trucks carry extracted sand away every single night without yielding any legitimate tax revenue for the state treasury. He emphasized that mining operations are legally prohibited during the monsoon season and that extracting riverbed minerals at night violates environmental regulations. Despite these statutory restrictions, Channi pointed out that large-scale sand theft persists, resulting in a substantial drain on state resources.
AAP Rejects Allegations as Political Stunt
Representatives of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party swiftly dismissed the allegations made during the midnight raid, characterizing the entire event as a staged publicity effort. Darshan Singh, Chairman of the Nakodar Zila Parishad and an AAP leader, publicly refuted the claims, maintaining that the accusations lacked factual foundation. He asserted that the former Chief Minister organized the spectacle solely to tarnish the reputation of the state government. Darshan Singh added that such political tactics would not influence the electorate, claiming that the public remains firmly supportive of the current administration.
Electoral Ambitions and Political Friction in Punjab
The confrontation occurs against the backdrop of persistent illegal sand mining concerns in Punjab, alongside intensifying political maneuvering ahead of upcoming state assembly elections. Key political figures across party lines, including Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Sukhbir Singh Badal, and Ravneet Singh Bittu, alongside Charanjit Singh Channi, are actively positioning themselves for power. Raja Warring has explicitly declared his intention to contest against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Meanwhile, internal party dynamics continue to unfold, as evidenced by former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's efforts to unify Punjab Congress leaders, which met opposition when Channi supporters raised slogans and displayed 'Go Back' posters in Muktsar. Observers note that competitive political theatrics could alienate public sentiment, potentially creating space for radical factions within the state if mainstream leaders fail to address core governance issues. Details of the inspection were also shared on X by the leader.
