Punjab Congress on Wednesday maintained that the party will seek an independent CBI probe into alleged diversion of Central and other funds by the SAD-BJP regime last year when the Assembly polls was nearing.
Referring to the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India highlighting the misappropriation of funds meant for centrally-sponsored scheme in Punjab, Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Partap Singh Bajwa declared that he will meet the Prime Minister, Union Finance Minister seeking a CBI inquiry into the matter.
“I will also write to the CAG, asking him to conduct a proper inquiry into the matter, and will also ask for sending these cases to the CBI for inquiry,” said Bajwa.
Quoting the CAG report tabled recently in the budget session of the Punjab Assembly, Bajwa said that the 13th Finance Commission has expressed concern over the tendency to divert public money from the budget to nominated funds, which are operated outside the authority of the legislature.
He alleged that State Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa himself conceded, in his statement on May 9, 2012, that `2,000 crore of Central funds, meant for various schemes, was diverted between 2011-12. “My direct charge on the State Government is that no one knows where this money has gone. We fear that this could have been misused, as Punjab went to polls in January last year. It's a case of pilferage of funds,” Bajwa added.
‘Coalition govt formed on false promises’
Blaming the State Government for betraying the people of the State by making false poll promises, Bajwa said it was a habit of the SAD-BJP coalition to dupe the people by showing them delusive dreams.
“Over a year has lapsed since the SAD-BJP Government took over, not even a single promise they made in their manifesto has been fulfilled including `1,000 unemployment allowance, laptops to all students in higher secondary classes, enhancing Shagun money, among others. Rather, they withdraw free education to girls,” he added.
‘Police shielding mining, drug mafia’
Bajwa alleged that Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal has made Punjab police partner in his illegal trades and police was now shielding mining and drug mafia. “Sukhbir is using police like a private militia….Congress would not allow situation to slip out of hand. After my tour of Punjab, I will lead the agitation against illegal mining,” he added.
Challenging the Badals’ claims of Punjab being a peaceful State, Bajwa said: “I would only admit their assertion only if Badals and (Bikram Singh) Majithia gave up their security cover of hundreds guards.”