There’s more trouble in store for Punjab Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka as Punjab Congress on Wednesday declared that it would take up the issue of embezzlement of Central funds with the Central Government.
The development is significant as the main Opposition in the state, Congress, has all along been alleging the SAD-BJP-led Punjab Government for misusing Central funds.
Besides, the party would also ask for the fact-finding report in the same from the Central Ministry.
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Partap Singh Bajwa would meet Union Minister of Human resource development MM Pallam Raju to seek an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the embezzlement of central funds under the Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyaan (RMSA) heads by Maluka, said PPCC spokesperson Sukhpal Khaira.
‘Include funds released by Maluka’s daughter-in-law’
Congress also demanded to include the funds released by Maluka’s daughter-in-law Parampal Kaur, on deputation in Education Department as additional project director SSA. Khaira said the amount of Rs 750 crore released by her should also be investigated thoroughly.
Demands probe by sitting HC judge
Rejecting the “pre-planned and motivated judicial inquiry ordered by the Chief Minister to procure a clean chit for his Minister”, Khaira demanded that if Parkash Singh Badal has moral courage, he should get this matter probed by the sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court or the CBI instead of appointing a investigating officer by his own.
Maintaining that Justice AN Jindal, who has been given probe in the matter, has allegiance towards the Akali Dal, Khaira said that the judge is married in Rampura Phool and his brother-in-law is a Maluka’s staunch supporter, besides being president of Rampura Phool Municipal Committee.
“Role of Justice Jindal has also been under scanner in the infamous cash scandal involving Justice Nirmal Yadav,” he added.
Khaira said: “The fact is that it is a clear quid pro quo arrangement created by the Chief Minister to procure a clean chit for his lieutenant and make a scapegoat out of few officials. Having obliged the CM, Justice Jindal would then be rewarded with a plum Government position.”