Badals diverted ` 150cr from Patiala to Bathinda: Preneet
Wednesday, 13/08/2014
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PATIALA: Congress candidate from Patiala (urban) constituency Preneet Kaur on Tuesday asked Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal to give an account of ` 150 crore to the people of the city that she had got sanctioned from the UPA government for Rajindra hospital.
Hitting back at the Akalis for targeting her on her performance, Preneet sought to know from the chief minister that “why development took place only in Bathinda and other districts of Punjab were deprived of it”. She claimed that funds meant for Patiala were diverted to Bathinda. Addressing a series of meeting, Preneet held the SAD-BJP combine responsible for non-development of the city.
She said the Centre had released funds under various heads to the state for development of Patiala, but the chief minister and his deputy Sukhbir Sigh Badal diverted all funds to Bathinda. “Except Bathinda, no other district has seen development works in the last seven years and Patiala is the most prominent victim of the Badals’ maltreatment,” she said.
She said after her persistent efforts the UPA government had sanctioned ` 150 crore for upgrading facilities at Rajindra hospital.
“However, not a single penny was used for the hospital and I don’t know what they did with the money,” said Preneet. The former union minster said since the central grants were utilised by state governments only, the Akalis got the money and probably diverted to Bathinda and Lambi.
“When Badal comes to you in a day or two, ask him that what did he do with the ` 150 crore meant for Rajindra hospital,” she asked people.
