The Punjab Congress on Monday lashed out at the Parkash Singh Badal Government for allegedly “misusing” Panchayat funds by asking the local bodies to pay for display boards promoting its welfare schemes, ahead of Assembly elections in the state.
Punjab Congress leaders — Kewal Singh Dhillon, Ajaib Singh Bhatti, Navtej Singh Cheema and Sukhbinder Sarkaria — in a joint statement termed the move as “anti-people”.
They accused the Badal government of resorting to “cheap tactics” to finance its publicity campaign ahead of the Assembly elections early next year.
A total of 1,300 Panchayats in the state have been instructed by the government to pay between `5,000 and `11,200 each for putting up display boards in the villages, the leaders claimed.
They added that the Panchayats have been asked to deposit the money with their respective Block Development and Panchayat Officers.
The leaders accused the Punjab government of “blatant corruption” saying that it had drained the public exchequer by misusing people's money. The departments concerned are reported to be defending the move as essential for making the general public aware of the various welfare schemes operational in the state, the Congress leaders said. They said it was an “atrocious explanation” since most Panchayats were already carrying out awareness programmes in their respective areas regarding the welfare schemes.