Khaira to Sukhbir: Immediately deposit Rs 22 lacs back in government treasury!

Jalandhar, January 15, 2014: Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Official Spokesperson, PPCC and ex MLA, has said RTI information provided by PEDA confirming an expenditure of Rs.22 lacs on one tour of Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and his cronies to China in 2011 exposes Badal’s economic burden the public exchequer for fun and frolic.

In a statement here on Wednesday, he added Congress urges the Deputy CM to deposit this huge amount back in the government treasury. He said as per RTI information provided by Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA), Badal and his so called delegation of officers spent a whopping Rs.22,19,995 of tax payers money on a 10 day tour to China in April, 2011.

The purpose of tour was to explore possibilities of Biomass Power Generation Technology from rice straw combustion and Low Head Technology for Small Hydro Power. Despite spending a whopping amount of about Rs.22 lacs from the public exchequer, neither was any MoU signed nor any agreement reached for achieving the above stated purposes. In other words, it was a fruitless tour merely for holidaying and indulging in fun and frolic in China for 10 days, at the cost of the public exchequer.

“Although, as per my RTI query, I had sought details of all foreign tours undertaken by the Deputy CM from March 2007 till date from the government, but unfortunately concealing all such information the government has provided information of only one such tour”, he revealed.

Adding, he said if the Deputy CM and his cronies can spend Rs. 22 lacs of government money on one tour to China, one can imagine the ‘loot’ of all public exchequer by the Badals for dozens of such foreign tours undertaken by them during the last seven years.

The fact of the matter is that the CM and the Deputy CM have visited many foreign shores and have made lofty statements, to replicate different projects of these developed countries but to no avail. “I clearly remember the CM and Deputy CM promising to bring about dairy revolution after visiting Israel, to introduce rapid transport system during their visit to Turkey, new garbage collection system after a Dubai visit, new agriculture and horticulture technologies after visiting a South American country etc. etc.”, he said.

Khaira said the Badal duo cannot list even one project implemented or achieved from any of their foreign tours. It has become a common practise for ruling politicians to plan foreign tour with some bogus government agenda, so that the public exchequer can be misused to make payments for their holidaying and picnics.

“Therefore, Congress urges the SAD-BJP government to issue a white paper on all expenses incurred by the CM, Deputy CM and the Ministers on their foreign tours during the last seven years”, he asserted.

Khaira said Congress also urges the Deputy CM to immediately deposit the said Rs 22 lacs back in the government treasury, as there has been no achievement from his 10 day China tour in April 2011. “It also advises the Badals not to splurge people’s money for their personal whims and fancies, as there is no dearth of ill gotten wealth at their disposal to pay for such fruitless tours”, he said. //jalandhar news,  jalandhar current news,  jalandhar news live, jalandhar breaking news, jalandhar headlines, jalandhar latest news, india news, punjab news, punjab news live, punjab news online, punjab news, punjab news headlines, punjab breaking news, india news, punjab news,

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