Chandigarh: A political controversy has intensified in Punjab after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Anandpur Sahib MP Malvinder Singh Kang publicly criticised the functioning of the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), describing it as a “hub of loot” and demanding government intervention.
Kang’s remarks are significant because they come from a sitting MP of the ruling AAP, rather than from the opposition. His criticism has provided political ammunition to opposition parties, which are now questioning whether allegations of corruption and administrative high-handedness within GMADA can be dismissed as merely political attacks.
Kang has reportedly raised concerns over the manner in which GMADA officials have been dealing with local residents and businesses, particularly in connection with demolition and enforcement actions. He questioned the apparent disparity in action against ordinary and financially weaker people and demanded that the authorities ensure fairness and accountability.
The AAP MP also appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to take note of the situation and intervene. His warning that the authority could face a protest or gherao has added further political weight to the controversy.
The issue has been seized upon by Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia, who accused the Mann government of allowing corruption to spread across Punjab. Majithia pointed specifically to Kang’s criticism, arguing that if even an AAP MP is compelled to publicly question GMADA, the government should explain what is happening inside one of Punjab’s most important development authorities.
Majithia said Kang should remain firm on his position and follow through on his proposed action rather than allowing the matter to fade away. He argued that the controversy should be treated as a serious governance issue and not merely as an internal disagreement within the ruling party.
The political significance of Kang’s intervention lies precisely in its source. Opposition leaders routinely accuse governments of corruption and administrative failures, but criticism from a ruling-party MP carries a different political message. It suggests that concerns about the functioning of government agencies may also exist within the ruling establishment.
GMADA occupies an important position in the development of the Mohali region, with responsibilities connected to urban planning, land development and infrastructure. Consequently, allegations involving its functioning can have a direct impact on residents, landowners, businesses, developers and ordinary citizens.
At the same time, allegations of corruption should be distinguished from proven wrongdoing. Any specific accusation against an official or department should be established through documentary evidence, an impartial inquiry and due process. The appropriate response from the government should therefore be a transparent examination of the allegations rather than simply a political rebuttal.
The controversy has now created an uncomfortable situation for the Punjab government. If Kang’s allegations are unfounded, the government should make the facts public and establish what actually happened. If there are genuine administrative or corruption-related concerns, the government must demonstrate that it is prepared to investigate them and take corrective action.
The larger question is whether the Mann government will treat Kang’s criticism as an internal political disagreement or as an opportunity to examine the functioning of GMADA and strengthen accountability.
For Punjab’s citizens, the issue is ultimately bigger than the political exchange between Majithia, Kang and the government. The real test will be whether public development authorities operate transparently, treat citizens equally and remain accountable for decisions involving public land, development and government power.
An AAP MP calling a government authority a “hub of loot” is therefore not simply another political allegation—it is a warning from within the ruling establishment that the government cannot afford to ignore.