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'Judicial probe motivated to secure clean chit for Maluka'
Punjab Congress on Wednesday dismissed as "pre-planned and motivated" the judicial inquiry ordered by chief minister Parkash Singh Badal into the library books scam "to secure a clean chit for his cabinet colleague Sikander Singh Maluka".
Punjab Congress on Wednesday dismissed as "pre-planned and motivated" the judicial inquiry ordered by chief minister Parkash Singh Badal into the library books scam "to secure a clean chit for his cabinet colleague Sikander Singh Maluka".
The opposition party also reiterated its demand for a CBI probe into the scam and the resignation of education minister Maluka for his involvement in the case.
Addressing a press conference here, Punjab Congress spokesman Sukhpal Singh Khaira said it was indeed intriguing as well as shocking that while the CM had defended his blue- eyed minister, the government had suspended three officers, including DPI-Elementary Pritpal Kaur.
"By suspending the three officials, the government had clearly admitted to serious lapses. Then why is the education minister being shielded?" Khaira sought to know from the state government.
He alleged that it was Maluka who bypassed all the norms set by Director General of Secondary Education and appointed a three-member committee under the DPI-E, who in turn indulged in embezzlement and fraud.
Khaira maintained that had the minister been asked to quit and the three officials suspended, things would have been different. However, the ill-intention of the chief minister clearly indicated that the so-called judicial inquiry would be nothing but a farce, drama and a cover up operation, the Congress leader claimed.
Khaira also trashed the CM's statement that it was Punjab advocate general who had suggested the name of justice AN Jindal (retd) for the probe panel. "The advocate general is an appointee of the CM and cannot go beyond his brief," Khaira quipped.
The Congress leader also opposed the Punjab Horse Race Act 2013 under which the state government planned to set up a race course near Ludhiana.
"It only exposes the feudal mindset of deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and his brother-in-law and revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia.
While the government is unable to pay salaries to its employees and shagun to 80,000 poor Dalit girls since 2009, how prudent is it is to have a horse racing course as a priority?" asked Khaira.
Khaira said that the Congress would oppose the acquisition of 1,000 acres of agricultural land in Ludhiana for the race course, amusement park and the 5-star hotel.
