DW BUREAU Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Friday said that Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal leaders were shielding the gangsters, but now an investigation is underway to unearth wrongdoing during previous governments. He said that if any political leaders or officers were found to be linked with criminals during the probe, they will be put behind bars. Minister Cheema, while campaigning for AAP candidate Gurmail Singh in Sangrur, said, "Aam Aadmi Party will score a hat trick in Sangrur by-election and Gurmail Singh will win this seat by a landslide victory on basis of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's three months governance." Cheema said that in the first two months of Mann government, 26454 job advertisements were issued for unemployed youth, Rs 1500 per acre incentive for direct sowing of paddy, free ration to households, 300 units of free electricity and other decisions were taken by the government in just three months. He said that AAP is the strongest party in Sangrur and all the opponents have joined together to malign AAP. Cheema said that other candidates will not be able to secure security deposits and the Congress, SAD and BJP presidents will resign later. The finance minister said that if the youth of Punjab is unemployed then it is because of the previous governments. (editor@dailyworld.in)