Punjab govt planning to pay Rs 350 crore ‘arranger fee’ for loans, says Akali Dal
Chandigarh, Aug 23 (IANS) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Daljit Singh Cheema said on Sunday that the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab was planning to pay a Rs 350 crore “arranger fee” to raise loans worth Rs 25,000 crore through Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) and Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).
He described it as a “direct loot of the state exchequer”.
He alleged that the money was, in fact, intended to be used for the expansion activities of the Aam Aadmi Party in other states.
Addressing the media at Anandpur Sahib, former Education Minister Cheema expressed surprise that despite Punjab having highly capable officers, including the Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha, the state government felt the need to engage an intermediary to present its case before banks for raising loans.
He said the so-called “arranger fee” was nothing but a means for the Aam Aadmi Party to allegedly divert public money indirectly for its expansion.
He added that neither in Punjab nor in any other state had governments previously been known to pay such a “arranger fee” for raising loans.
Cheema alleged that the AAP government had pushed Punjab’s debt burden to around Rs 4.5 lakh crore and claimed that every Punjabi was now carrying a debt burden of around Rs 1.5 lakh.
Referring to Congress leader Sajjan Kumar being projected as a hero by the party’s senior leadership while local Congress leaders in Punjab were opposing him, Cheema termed the entire episode a drama.
He said that Congress leaders needed to clarify their stand on Sajjan Kumar and other leaders linked to the 1984 Sikh riot cases.
He said that if the Congress leaders genuinely wished to register their protest, they should openly speak against Jagdish Tytler and Kamal Nath as well and demand that the party high command expel them from the Congress.
He alleged that the Congress leaders were making different statements in Punjab and Haryana ahead of elections, while the national leadership of the party had remained silent.
Cheema also referred to what he described as a serious matter allegedly involving the Chief Minister’s family.
He alleged that a petition filed in court contained accusations that Rs 5 crore had been demanded by members and relatives of the Chief Minister Mann’s family to settle a rape case.
He said the High Court and the National Human Rights Commission had also sought a response from the state government in the matter.
On unemployment and government recruitment, Cheema alleged that none of the state government’s recruitment processes was being completed in a proper and transparent manner.
He said complaints regarding scams, paper leaks and cheating were repeatedly surfacing, while in several cases the High Court had also imposed stays.
He also added that candidates from outside Punjab were being given government jobs through improper means.
–IANS
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