Hindustan
Times: Allahabad: Wednesday, October 24, 2012.
Punjab
Pradesh Congress Committee member Raman Bahl has accused the SAD-BJP government
of distributing a grant of Rs 1.4 crore among economically weaker sections just
before the model code of conduct came into force on December 22, 2011 before
the assembly elections to influence voters in Gurdaspur assembly segment. He
has also demanded a CBI inquiry into this.
Bahl obtained
the information under the RTI that the government sent a grant of Rs 1.02 crore
and another of Rs 17.5 lakh to the Gurdaspur Improvement Trust on October 31,
2011. He said another grant of Rs 20.25 lakh was given to the Gurdaspur block
development and panchayats officer (BDPO) on October 31, for distribution among
the poor for the repair of their houses or making their houses pucca in rural
area of Gurdaspur assembly constituency.
Bahl alleged
that the authorities did not follow the rules while allotting these grants. He
alleged that the authorities did not invite applications from the needy nor did
they adopt any process of verification of their applications. He alleged that
the authorities did not make a merit list of the applicants while releasing the
grants.
The
administration allegedly failed to furnish Bahl with the addresses of the
recipients of these grants. Bahl has filed an appeal in the office of the deputy
commissioner to get these.
Bahl alleged
that the administration adopted a pick-and-choose policy and did not maintain
transparency in giving grants. He accused the administration of giving these
grants even to those who already owned pucca houses, leaving out many deserving
people.
Bahl said
only a thorough probe would expose the wrong distribution of these grants.
Gurdaspur
Improvement Trust executive officer Manoj Kumar and BDPO Amandeep Kaur, who
have recently assumed office, refused to comment.
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