The Punjab Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday accused Governor Banwarilal Purohit of playing politics and asked why he has never raised with the Centre the issue of ''pending'' rural development and National Health Mission funds for the state.
Addressing a news conference here, AAP Punjab chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang also claimed that the governor has violated the decorum of the Constitution by not referring to the state government as ''my government''. The AAP's reaction came after Purohit wrote to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing him of dereliction of Constitutional duty by not responding to his letters.
Purohit had also referred to a Supreme Court order in February which stated that the governor has a right to seek information from the chief minister. ''If governor saab is so concerned about Punjab, then did he ever raise his voice against the Centre's excesses against Punjab on the financial front? Did he take up with the Centre about stopping the release of the Rural Development Fund (RDF) and NHM funds to the state? Never,'' Kang said.
The Punjab government has accused the BJP-led Centre of not releasing funds of around Rs 3,500 crore under the RDF. It has also been at loggerheads with the Centre over the funds under the NHM.