Channi raids Ropar mining site, alleges state-sponsored sand theft

Accompanied by Congress leader Barinder Singh Dhillon, Channi arrived at the site to find Poklane machines excavating sand and a long queue of trucks awaiting loads. The arrival triggered an immediate scramble as several drivers abandoned their equipment and fled. Channi asserts that he contacted the Ropar Deputy Commissioner during the incident to demand an official response, yet he claims no authorities arrived for a significant period.

The former Chief Minister alleges that hundreds of trucks depart the site daily, with the profits bypassing the state treasury entirely. He directly challenged the Aam Aadmi Party administration to account for its revenue claims, suggesting that the proceeds from this "white gold" are instead financing the party’s national election campaigns. According to Channi, the scale of the operation indicates deep-seated complicity among local officials and high-level political patronage, effectively draining Punjab’s natural wealth to fund political expansion elsewhere.