Punjab Congress is all set to open a chapter of protest in the book scam. The party on Friday warned the State Government of knocking the doors of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, if the State Government did not ask “erring” Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka to go.
Besides demanding Maluka’s dismissal from the Cabinet, the Congress has also demanded registration of a corruption case against the Minister after the central panel, formed to probe the alleged irregularities in the purchase of library books and science kits in the State, indicted him for misappropriating Central funds under the Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).
On the other hand, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal has maintained that he was not aware about any report prepared by Union Ministry of Human Resource Development Minister in the matter. He, in fact, submitted that a commission under Justice AN Jindal was already looking into the allegations.For examining the paperbacks in schools and libraries across Punjab, a four-member team of HRD Ministry conducted three-day investigation in the State from June 12.
The panel queried the persons involved in the process — including Maluka, education secretary Anjali Bhawra, Director General School Education (DGSE) Kahan Singh Pannu, besides visiting the various schools to check the quality of material, scrutinising documents and records, including that of the firm involved in the purchase of books and science kits, among other things.
At the same time, the Punjab Government ordered an independent inquiry, “to get into the bottom of the case”, to be conducted by recently retired Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice AN Jindal.While Justice Jindal Commission is yet to actually start the probe, the Central panel has held that funds were misappropriated by flouting financial norms laid down under the SSA and RMSA.
It has found that there was a loss of Rs 41.68 lakh meant for purchase of textbooks and science kits, out of which as much as Rs 39.33 lakh was paid to a single private book dealer, namely M/s Friends Enterprises, in an unauthorised manner. The books supplied by the dealer were neither age appropriate nor contained reading material fit for elementary-class level students.Punjab SSA has released a total sum of Rs 928.42 lakh to districts for the purchase of library books with the direction that books were to be purchased from language Department or Punjab State University Textbook Department. But, schools bought books from the private dealer.
Indicting Maluka, the inquiry held that procurement procedures were violated because centralised procurement ordered by the Minister was against the de-centralised purchases mandated under the SSA and RMSA.The purchase of library books for primary and upper-primary school children by a three-member committee with the approval of Maluka was not in accordance with the prescribed procedure, held the central team.
Considering Maluka’s indictment by the Central panel, Congress party was of the view that he should not be asked to resign, but only be dismissed from the Cabinet by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
“The embezzlement of funds in purchase of library books and science kits is a blot on the face of the SAD-BJP Government and Maluka’s conduct is totally unbecoming of a Cabinet Minister. If he has any morality left in him, he will voluntarily step down from his post,” said Punjab Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa.
Maintaining that their stand has been vindicated by the Central report, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president said that the book scam has “unmasked the double face of Badal who do not practice what he preaches”. He, in fact, accused Badal of being “morally corrupt”, and shielding Maluka and other corrupt Ministers in his Cabinet.
Dubbing State Government’s Commission of Inquiry under Justice Jindal a “sham” and an attempt to “save its face”, the Congress spokesperson Sukhpal Singh Khaira said, “The State Government’s Commission, formed to ensure clean-chit to Maluka, should be asked to stop functioning in the wake of Centre’s report.”
Khaira added, “The party demands registration of a case against Maluka and others involved in the books scam under the Prevention of Corruption Act. If Maluka is not dismissed or case be registered against him, the party is going to hold series of protest.” In unison, Bajwa reiterated that Maluka be booked under a criminal case. “On the basis of findings of the Central probe panel, an inquiry by a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court should be set up to probe themisuse of Central funds and powers by the Education Minister,” he added.