leader of Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha Sunil Kumar Jakhar on Tuesday accused the SAD-BJP led Punjab Government of misleading people by making false claims.
He rubbished the statement of State Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike, he made on July 9, that Rs26.39 crore has been released as Shagun amount to 17,594 SC girls.
“No money has so far been released,” claimed Jakhar.
He reminded that Congress MlAs, on June 23, had staged a dharna at the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s residence and submitted memorandum to press certain demands which included release of money under the Shagun scheme.
“This forced Ranike to issue statement that Rs26.39 crore has been released. Ranike had also said that he had issued instructions to disburse Shagun of Rs15,000 each directly in the bank account of beneficiary brides before the marriage date,” pointed Jakhar.
He alleged that the minister made “false statement” to avert a face down in Vidhan Sabha during the budget session, and thus, “played cruel joke with the beneficiaries who had been fighting pillar to post to avail Shagun”.
Jakhar maintained that 27,000 files for Shagun scheme were pending in different districts till July 25, and 1,325 applications were lying unattended in his constituency, Abohar, in Fazilka district.
“SAD-BJP had promised in its election manifesto that the beneficiaries would have to apply for availing this scheme 30 days before commencement of marriage completing all the necessary formalities. But 29 months have passed now and people feel betrayed,” said Jakhar.
The Congress legislative Party leader urged the Minister in-charge to get Shagun scheme funds released immediately.
Rs280.81 crore provided by the previous UPA Government for the session 2013-14 under the Post-Matric Scholarship scheme for dalit students should also be released without further delay, he demanded.