Hitting out at Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu’s allegations of misappropriation of central funds during SAD-BJP’s tenure in Punjab, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday said that the Minister should ask the State Finance Department about it, instead of staging a “roadside drama”.
The party also reminded the cricketer-turned-politician that he was a Cabinet Minister now, “besides being a comedian”.
‘It would be better if Sidhu sat in his office for four days and tried to understand the functioning of the Government, instead of rushing off to Mumbai every other day to shoot for comedy shows,” said SAD spokesman and former Punjab minister Daljeet Singh Cheema.
“If you do this, you will come to know that each and every penny received from the Centre under various heads is accounted for. The entire amount received for the ludhiana Smart City project is with the Treasury department. Similarly, the Rs 114 crore you referred to as received for the AMRUT scheme is also with the Finance department,” Cheema told Sidhu.
Cheema said that same was the fate of the money received from the Union Finance Ministry as part of the incentive fund. “Instead of asking us about the money, you should ask the Finance department when will it be released,” he said.
“I gave a reasonable and well thought out answer to the mindless allegations levelled by Sidhu against Parkash Singh Badal,” he said. He asked Sidhu to substantiate his allegations of misappropriation of funds or apologise to the Akalis and the people.
“You failed miserably to substantiate any of your allegations. You have also proved that you have no knowledge of the fiscal working of the government. It would be better if you acquire this knowledge before indulging in cheap theatrics,” said Cheema.