Repeated scams in AAP regime exposed Punjab CM: Sukhbir
Darpan News Desk IANS, 08 Feb, 2023 02:13 PM
Jalandhar, Feb 8 (IANS) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday said repeated scams in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) regime, including the latest admission in the high court that the Naib Tehsildar recruitment process was scam ridden, had exposed Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and proven that the latter's government was corruption-ridden.
Talking to the media here, the SAD President said AAP had loudly proclaimed that it would give jobs on merit to students. "Forget doing this, the manner in which all recruitment conducted by the government has been vitiated and proved AAP does not have the welfare of youth at heart," he said.
He also took on Mann for "indulging in gimmicks" and "resorting to a name changing spree at the cost of the public exchequer". "First Seva Kendra established by the previous SAD government were changed to Mohalla Clinics after painting the buildings. Now 540 rural dispensaries have been turned into Aam Aadmi clinics at exorbitant costs. Doctors working in busy hospitals were being forced to do duty in these clinics."
Badal also claimed the same tactic was used to establish the so called Schools of Eminence. "These are nothing but meritorious schools established by Parkash Singh Badal which have been given a new name."
Asking the Chief Minister to tell one dispensary, school or building his government had established, Badal said: "We are witnessing the destruction of the health and education sector in the state."
He alleged that the state was being pushed into an era of darkness with the PSPCL being bankrupted by the AAP government.
He said the government was not releasing subsidy of Rs 4,870 crore due to the power utility, besides Rs 2,605 crore due from government departments.
He said the manner in which PSPCL was starved of funds was leading to power cuts in winter. "The situation could take a turn for the worse and even endanger the paddy crop in summer," he added.
Punjab is predominantly an agricultural state with majority of population living in rural areas. Forty-five per cent of total diesel consumed in Punjab is used in agriculture, 25 per cent in transportation, 20 per cent in industry and 10 per cent by retail consumer.
Delhi Police on Wednesday busted a smuggling racket of imported cigarettes and recovered 3,650 packets of illegally smuggled cigarettes, valued at approximately Rs 7.3 lakhs. According to the police, a man, identified as Aamir Laeeq, 30, was arrested in this connection.
Security guards in all the banks in J&K are provided with point 12 bore shotguns and not rifles. While bullets are used in rifles, the ammunition of a shotgun is made of cartridges.
The haul is valued at nearly Rs 8 lakh. The smuggler Abdul Baki Malitha (40) and the silver pellets have been handed over to the Customs department at Jalangi, Murshidabad, for further processing.
The sources also said that they have identified around 22 mobile numbers of PFI student wing members who were present in the area before the violence erupted. They said that the probe agencies have been trying to ascertain their activities and they may be questioned by the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police.
The packet had come through the cargo to Sirajudeen on April 17, and on Monday a person named Naukul had come to take it. The officials used a gas cutter to open the meat slicer and recovered 2.26 kg of gold stacked inside the machine.
