Chandigarh: Amid pandemic, after Hooch Tragedy, an alleged scam worth crores in post-matric scholarship scheme has left Punjab Government red-faced.
An investigation into Punjab’s post-matric scholarship scheme scam has held that the state’s social justice, empowerment and minorities minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot and his team of officers worked in tandem and caused the loss of crores to the Government.
The Union government had in February and March 2019 sent a total amount of Rs 303 crore to the Punjab government under the post-matric scholarship scheme for Scheduled Castes and the state directorate of social justice withdrew Rs 248 crore from the treasury and this amount was distributed in an arbitrary manner.
MoS Industry and Commerce and MP from Punjab Som Prakash has taken up the matter with Union Govt and Punjab Govt. He has written a letter to Union Minister for Social justice and empowerment Thavarchand Gahlot & Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh and has requested an enquiry into the matter where funds allocated for poor students were misused by a state cabinet minister and officials.
Also, an amount of Rs 16.91 crore was paid to such institutions against which the audit teams had recommended recovery of Rs 8 crore.
The 33-page inquiry report was submitted by Kripa Shankar Saroj, additional chief secretary of Dharamsot’s own department, to Punjab’s Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan.
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Som Prakash has also written a letter to Union Home minister Amit Shah and requested CBI enquiry for Hooch Tragedy. Recently over 120 lost life in Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur after consuming spurious liquor.
"There is a Police-Govt nexus. Illegal liquor was seized in various places but no strict action is taken so far. Enforcement Directorate is provided with details of FIR. I have written to HM and requested CBI enquiry."
Som Prakash also highlighted the matter of alleged food grain scam amid pandemic. He said, "Union Govt had sent ration for over 1.42 crore people but it wasn't distributed to needy and poor. I have written a letter to Ramvilas Paswan, Union Minister for Food distribution and consumer affairs to look into the matter."
I will keep highlighting these matters until justice is delivered to poor students and victim families, he added.
