The previous SAD-BJP Government on Wednesday found itself cornered over the issue of “financial mess” in the State. As the Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Badal held the previous SAD-BJP Government accountable for the “embarrassing” failure of its budgetary estimates, the voices for action against those responsible for the same were heard loud and clear on the last day of the maiden Session of the newly-elected Punjab Vidhan Sabha.
Supporting Congress Government’s declaration of releasing the white paper on State finances, the main Opposition, the Aam Aadmi Party, demanded to increase its scope to the past 20-30 years.
Besides, the party and its ally, lok Insaaf Party (lIP), demanded to set up an enquiry commission to investigate the financial and other irregularities done by the previous Governments.
As the House passed the “Vote-on-Account” of more than Rs 29,389 crore for three months from April to June of the current fiscal 2017-18, Manpreet confronted the SAD-BJP combine for “looting” the State and ruining State’s economy listing out its “misdeeds”.
Reiterating that the Government will bring out a white paper that would present the “real” picture of State finances, Manpreet also declared that an international firm will conduct a third party audit of the previous Government’s works.
As the AAP legislative party leader HS Phoolka raised objections over supplementary demands for grants for expenditure in the previous fiscal (2016-17) of more than
Rs 25,000 crore, Manpreet clarified that it was already spent by the previous Government and as a rule, the Assembly has to pass the same.
“The Government in its Budget give estimates as you don’t know exactly how much would be spent…It is so embarrassing that the previous regime got so went so wrong in its estimates that it spent Rs 25,000 crore extra…I have seen in the past that estimates can go here and there by Rs 500 crore to Rs 1,000 crore…but this is embarrassing,” he said.
In his distinctive poetic style, he accused the previous Government for “looting” the State’s “caravan” for ten years. “And the poor man didn’t even come to know that he was being looted,” he said.
Manpreet reiterated that the Government will bring the white paper in the House and a debate could be held for as many days the members want.
He listed out how the previous regime hypothecated the future revenue of Punjab State Industrial Development Board (PIDB) and Mandi Board for five years.
Making it clear that those responsible for plundering Government funds will not be spared, Manpreet maintained that action would be taken against al irrespective of how big or small the guilty is.
“The law will take its own course in handling those found involved in irregularities in disbursement of funds,” he added.
Citing instance out of many, he pointed how the Akali Government carelessly distributed Rs 6 crore, allocated for development of Hoshiarpur district, to some 300
contractors without even inviting tenders.
To this, the leader of Opposition and AAP MlA HS Phoolka said that his party will support the Congress Government to bring in any legislation to ensure that the “looted money of Punjab should not go out of the State at any cost”.
He insisted that white paper should cover atleast 20 years of the previous Governments as all are responsible for the present situation.
Manpreet’s predecessor and SAD’s MlA Parminder Singh Dhindsa said his party was open to any audit. “There was no illegality done in spending of money for any work...If anyone found guilty by audit, the Government is free to take action,” he said adding that the Government is just finding ways out for not fulfilling its promises.
AAP MlA Sukhpal Khaira insisted that responsibility should be fixed on who looted the State.
Congress MlA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa demanded that the responsibility of officers who connived with the higher-ups for irregularities should also be fixed.
OBITUARIES
Punjab Assembly paid tributes to former Governor and ex-Punjab Chief Minister Surjit Singh Barnala and veteran actor Om Puri, among total of 15 people who departed for heavenly abode in the intervening period of two Sessions.
Speaker Rana Kanwar Pal Singh led the House in paying tributes following which it observed a two-minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed souls. “The void created by the deaths of these personalities is difficult to fill,” he said.
Besides Barnala and Puri, tributes were also paid to former Ministers Gurdev Singh Badal and Raj Khurana, former MlAs Makhan Singh and Ram lubhaya, senior Congress leader Rajinderpal Singh Attri, freedom fighters Durga Singh, Malkiat Singh, Sewa Singh and Gurbachan Singh, renowned artist Phulan Rani, soldier Jasvir Singh and martyr Jagjit Singh.
After obituary references, the Speaker adjourned the House for 35 minutes before it re-assembled for further proceedings.
Punjab law officers (engagement) Bill passed
To engage law officers in the office of the Punjab Advocate General (AG) in a “transparent, fair and objective manner”, Punjab Assembly passed The Punjab law Officers (Engagement) Bill, 2017, by voice vote.
As per the Bill, moved by leader of the House and Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, the law officers to be engaged in the office of AG are senior additional advocate general, additional advocate general, senior deputy advocate general, deputy advocate general, assistant advocate general and advocates on record.
The law Officers will give advice to the State Government on legal matters, appear and defend the Government and its officers or any other statutory authority before the High Court, Supreme Court, any other Court, and Tribunal.
No law Officer will appear in a case which is against the interest of the State Government, the Bill said.
The Government or the AG, with the approval of the Government, shall have the right to engage any advocate, not having been engaged as law Officer, to institute, prosecute or defend any particular case or class of cases on behalf of the State Government and its officers and its instrumentalities.
The engagements of law Officers will be done by a scrutiny committee and the selection committee, comprising AG as chairman, legal Remembrancer as member secretary and three members to be appointed by the Government.
The AG, with the approval of Government, can engage up to seven advocates, the Bill said.
The Bill was passed without any discussion, except one suggestion by the AAP MlA to make provision for SC/ST in the same.
Khaira takes on Govt over OSDs appointment
The appointment of advisers and OSDs in the Congress Government and the proposal to bring in a legislation for appointing chief parliamentary secretaries was raised by AAP MlA Sukhpal Khaira who described the same as a burden on the State exchequer.
Criticising the State Government for making number of appointments on the rank of OSDs and giving cabinet ranks despite poor fiscal health, Khaira termed the move as “illegal and unconstitutional” and in violation of the Supreme Court’s decision.