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.
In his previous marriage to Inderpreet Kaur, which ended in a divorce in 2016, Mann has two children -- son Dilshan and daughter Seerat -- who are currently staying in the US with their mother. Both children had attended Mann's swearing-in ceremony at Khatkar Kalan on March 16.
A spokesman for the Chief Minister's office said all domestic consumers in the state would be eligible to get zero bills if their consumption is up to 600 units in every billing cycle. This will give a big reprieve to the domestic consumers who have to hitherto shell out huge money every month in the form of power tariff.
On receiving information about the incident, SP City Dinesh Kumar Singh, along with police force, reached the spot. The injured youths were sent to the hospital for treatment and the matter is being investigated.
The Chief Minister said the government is fully sensitive towards checking cross-border infiltration in Punjab. He said Punjab Police is constantly in touch with the Border Security Force (BSF) and other agencies for this purpose.
While briefing the officers, the DGP said the topmost priority of the government, as directed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, is to further strengthen the fight against drugs to make Punjab a drug-free state, besides eliminating the gangster culture, maintaining law and order, and detection of crime.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur announced Rs 5 lakh to the next of the kin of the deceased, whereas Rs 15,000 as immediate relief for the injured. He said free treatment would be provided to the injured.
