Mohali, Dec. 23 -- Senior BJP leader Vineet Joshi condemned the unabated illegal mining at Khizrabad village in the Majri block of Kharar, saying that the illegal activity continues openly despite the police registering an FIR in November this year. The BJP is demanding the immediate suspension of responsible officers, a time-bound independent inquiry, and strict criminal action against all officials and political patrons involved. "Punjab will not be allowed to be reduced to a free-for-all mining zone under corrupt political protection," Joshi warned. He said that on December 21, he revisited the same illegal mining site he had exposed earlier on November 8. "What I witnessed is nothing short of criminal governance. Despite the registration of an FIR by the Mohali mining department, illegal mining continues openly and on an even larger scale," he added. "The area under excavation has expanded further, clearly proving that the mining mafia is operating with complete confidence and protection. I possess dated photographs and videos from both visits that conclusively establish that government action exists only on paper." "If the MLA is unaware, it reflects shocking incompetence. If she is aware and stays silent, it raises far more serious questions," Joshi said. He further alleged that local villagers have openly stated that large sums of money are being collected and distributed to ensure silence and protection....