Jaitley helped Punjab hide foodgrains scam: Jakhar
Monday, 03/10/2016
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JALANDHAR: Punjab Congress chief spokesman Sunil Jakhar has accused Union finance minister Arun Jaitley of helping the state government hide the `29,000-crore food-grain-stock scam by converting it into loan.
Addressing a press conferance here on Sunday, Jakhar said Punjab government delegation led by state finance minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa and food and civil supplies minister Adesh Partap Kairon had met the Reserve Bank of India governor in Mumbai in September with a request to settle the misappropriated cash credit limit (CCL) as loan to Punjab. “CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) described it as a scam, while the Union government, actual custodian of the grain, turned a blind eye to it and its finance minister is bailing the state government out.” he said.
Jakhar said it was an attempt to convert fraud and theft into a “mistake” under political compulsions. “If the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) looks into it, the Akali-BJP leaders who usurped the food-grains will be behind bars,” he said.
‘BIKES SHOWN AS TRUCKS’
The Congress leader produced CAG’s inquiry report of the period till March 2016 to show that food was transported by ghost trucks. “CAG has verified all vehicles that Pungrain says carried the stock to the stores from grain markets. Pungrain submitted the registration numbers of 3,319 vehicles, of which only 87 are trucks, while 15 are two-wheelers.” he said.
“It shows that grain was never brought to the stores, and it disappeared from the market itself,” said Jakhar.
He also questioned the logic of ordering evacuation within 10 kilometres from the Pakistan border after India’s surgical strikes against terror camps in Occupied Kashmir. “My village near Abohar is along the Punjab and Rajasthan boundaries with Pakistan. While we have been told to vacate our houses, things are normal in our neighbouring village in Rajasthan,” he said. “The chief minister should clarify why only Punjab borders is being cleared.”
Jakhar also questioned the whereabouts of deputy CM Sukhbir Badal in this hour of crisis in the border areas of Punjab. “The CM, despite being ill, is touring the border state,” he said, “while Sukhbir, who is the home minister, is absent.”
