SAD seeks probe into funds misuse for Congress rally

SAD seeks probe into funds misuse for Congress rally

Daljit Singh Cheema. (File Photo: IANS)

Chandigarh, March 8 (IANS) The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday sought an immediate inquiry into the misuse of state government funds to host a political rally of the Congress in Moga on Thursday.

The SAD also demanded the immediate restoration of the funds into the government treasury.

SAD Senior Vice President Daljit Singh Cheema, in a letter to Punjab Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh on Friday, said the state treasury could not be allowed to be looted in this manner and demanded immediate corrective action.

The letter, copies of which have also been sent to the Election Commission of India and the state Election Commissioner, has asked the Chief Secretary to hold an immediate inquiry into the incident and take action against the officials who had allowed the Congress to hold a political rally in Moga in the garb of a debt waiver function.

The Moga rally was addressed by Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

Cheema said that the banners at the site, which spoke about "Mission-13", and speeches by leaders that were aimed at soliciting votes for the Congress in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, made it clear that this was an election rally instead of a government function.

"The Youth Congress members also put posters across the rally site with derogatory references to Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he pointed out.

He said the state government cannot insult the Prime Minister. "An inquiry should be ordered into this and due action should be taken," Cheema added.

As per the letter, the state government first asked the Moga district administration to pay farmers for premature clearance of 100 acres of wheat crop for the rally site.

Cheema said that state funds were also used for erecting the stage, for arranging food, transport and entertainment charges.

"This is a cruel joke on the farming community as well as other sections of society which could have been given the same relief to ease their misery," he said.

Cheema also condemned the manner in which farmers were called for distribution of cheques to them but were made to sit for hours to listen to political speeches.

The SAD leader asked the Chief Secretary to issue directions to the Congress for returning the money it spent on the function. Instructions should also be issued so that government funds are not used for Congress rallies in the future, he said.

--IANS

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