Bajwa demands CBI probe, Jakhar for Maluka’s sack
Sunday, 26/05/2013
http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/epapermain.aspx?queryed=9&eddate=2013-05-26
Chandigarh : The main Opposition Congress party on Saturday trained guns on Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka, holding him “responsible” for the books scam in the state Education Department.
While Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa demanded a CBI probe into the book scam, Congress Legislature Party Leader Sunil Jakhar sought Maluka’s dismissal.
Addressing a press conference here, Bajwa said the book scam involved misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 9.5 crore from the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan. “Maluka was earlier involved in the scandal of supply of practical books and students were directed to buy practical books from particular dealers,” he said, pointing out that a person who was manufacturing pipes was given the contract to publish exercise books.
He said books with vulgar material and chapters containing derogatory remarks against national leaders and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal were supplied. He said the Congress would meet the Union Human Resource Minister and bring to his notice the misuse of Central funds.
Bajwa said that SAD-BJP government had parked Rs 3,500 crore in bank accounts of its Corporations and Boards to skip audit.
“Badal is fully responsible for the corrupt practices by his ministers but every time a clean chit is given to guilty ministers,” alleged the Congress chief, stating that Congress has no faith in Punjab Vigilance Bureau, which had absolved Gulzar Singh Ranike of charges of embezzlement of the border area development funds.
Meanwhile, in a joint statement issued here, Jakhar and PPCC vice-president Gurpreet Singh Kanger urged Badal to dismiss Maluka until he got a clean chit, besides ordering an independent probe by CBI or High Court judge into the Centrally-sponsored education books scam.
Jakhar also raised questions over the deep silence by the state BJP.
“The mute behaviour of DGSE Kahan Singh Pannu is a matter to be probed that how overnight a cement pipe trader, by setting aside all the rules, made such an embezzlement,” they stated.The Leader of Opposition threatened to move the High Court if the government did not order an independent probe.
