Punjab Congress on Sunday asked the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to perform or quit the job. The party asked Badal to feel pity on people of Punjab and let them live with respect and pride they deserved.
Making a strong worded statement at the workers meeting, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Partap Singh Bajwa said that Punjab was close to become a ‘Banana Republic’ due to a situation of anarchy prevailing in the Government headed by Badal. “SAD-BJP Government has totally failed in maintaining law and order leaving people to suffer in the hands of criminals. The rampant corruption has plagued the system and economy is in shambles. For the first time in the history of Punjab, mafias ruled the roost,” he added.
Strongly opposing the reckless borrowing and sale of public properties by SAD-BJP Government to clear its debt, pay salaries of staff and day-to-day other expenses, he demanded from the President to declare financial emergency in the State. He said: “Selling Government properties is fraud with the people of Punjab and also an unethical and unprofessional practice. Government has already sold properties of Punjab Tourism Corporation at throw away price to its favorites and now began mortgaging the land and buildings owned by Punjab Urban Development Authority.”
“What could be more shameful that PUDA Bhawan in Mohali is also mortgaged for Rs 500 crores. PUDA has been asked to raise Rs 1,000 crores against its properties. The Government has also borrowed Rs 3,500 crores from market by auctioning State development funds,” he added. Bajwa maintained that the issue of sale of Government properties would be taken up with the Centre and President to apprise them about economic mess in Punjab created by present Government.
State party chief pointed that Chief Minister had given clean chit to its ministers in various scams, including Sucha Singh langah in seed subsidy scandal, Gulzar Singh Ranike in embezzlement of rural development fund.“Education Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka who makes headlines in one or the other scam is also given clean chit in the recent education scam. Now, his name has figured in another scam of recruitment of PTI teachers who never applied for the job. Tota Singh, former Education Minister, has already been convicted in a forgery case and still enjoys Badal’s confidence,” he added.
Taking a dig at Congress turncoats, Bajwa said that the leaders who had lost their worth in Congress were accepted by SAD. “Mangat Rai Bansal and Joginder Pal Jain are fine examples to describe SAD’s political character. Some other Congressmen who had defected to SAD are sidelined and their political carrier has ended,” he added.