Congressmen maintain silence after Ashu’s arrest by ED in tender scam

Chandigarh: The recent arrest of former Congress minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a tender scam has been met with a notable silence from Congress leaders in Ludhiana. Despite the gravity of the allegations, key figures such as Punjab Congress president and Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi have refrained from making public statements.

Both Warring and Channi have long-standing associations with Ashu, who served as a minister in Channi’s cabinet. Ashu, once a prominent contender for the Congress ticket from the Ludhiana Lok Sabha constituency, was sidelined when the ticket was awarded to Raja Warring.

This decision reportedly sparked a dispute between Ashu and Warring, marking a notable rift within the party ranks.

Arrest and Aftermath

Ashu was taken into custody by the ED in Jalandhar, with his arrest linked to a tender scam that has raised significant concerns within the political landscape.

Following his detention, efforts by Congress leaders to visit him were thwarted, as Jalandhar MLA Pargat Singh, MLA Sukhwinder Kotli, and former MLA Rajinder Beri were denied access to meet Ashu. This denial further underscored the tension and unease within the party.

Leaders associated with Ashu have noticeably retreated from the public eye. Former MLA and Congress district president Sanjay Talwar, previously considered close to Ashu, has also opted to remain silent. According to sources, a private meeting among senior Congress leaders was convened at the district Congress office.

However, the gathering was conducted without media presence or public disclosure, reflecting a strategic decision to handle the situation internally.