Chandigarh, Dec 16 (PTI) Punjab BJP chief Vijay Samplatoday accused the Congress government in the state of failingto spend Rs 115 crore meant for Scheduled Caste students undera scholarship scheme.
The Union minister of state for social justice andempowerment charged the Punjab government with spending thefunds for post matric scholarship scheme on something else.
"Eight months have passed since a sum of Rs 115 crore hadbeen released to the Punjab government by the Centre for thepost matric SC scholarship scheme. Our officials have beenreminding the concerned officials in the state government todistribute money and send us the utilisation certificates sothat the next instalment can be sent," Sampla told reporters.
"Not even a single penny has been distributed underthis scheme by the Punjab government yet," he said.
Sampla said when his ministry asked the state officialswhat happened to the money, "they say verification is beingdone".
"As a result of it, the social discrimination of theDalit student has been rising," he claimed.
Sampla said he himself called up the concerned officialsabout the spending of the grant. "It appears that they (stategovernment) used Rs 115 crore in some other accounts.
Sampla also alleged that the Congress government was"oppressing" its political opponents ahead of the MunicipalCouncil polls.
He claimed false cases have been filed against members ofopposition parties at the behest of the ruling party members.
The Punjab BJP chief urged people to vote for SAD-BJPcandidates in the local body polls in Amritsar, Jalandhar,Patiala and other areas on December 17. PTI CHS VSDABH.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.