A delegation of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) meeting the Union Human Resource and Development Minister M. Pallan Rajuin Delhi on Thursday, to demand probe into the complaint of embezzlement in the funds of Sarb Shiksha Abhiyan and Rashtriya Madhyamic Shiksha Abhiyan by Punjab Education Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka.
Chandigarh, June 6, 2013: The Union Human Resource and Development Minister M. Pallan Raju took assured a delegation of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) to probe the complaint of embezzlement in the funds of Sarb Shiksha Abhiyan and Rashtriya Madhyamic Shiksha Abhiyan by Punjab Education Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka.
Raju was shocked to know the facts of the case and assured that matter would be probed. The Punjab Congress leaders led by CLP leader Sunil Jakhar submitted a memorandum to the Union Minister signed on behalf of PPCC President Partap Singh Bajwa. The PPCC has demanded a CBI probe into the infamous book scam running into crores of rupees. The minister said he would send fact finding committee to Punjab.
The Congress delegation told Raju that scam in the Punjab Education Board has rocked the state and all major national and vernacular newspapers had highlighted the matter after conducting thorough investigation at their own level. The investigation has brought to light brought to fore Rs. 9.28 crore embezzlement in supply of library books to government schools, flouting all norm laid down under the Sarb Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) funds. Similarly, a whopping Rs. 7.56 crore has been misappropriated under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) in the supply of science kits to 756 govt. schools.
The memorandum stated, “The modus oprendi in siphoning off, embezzling and misappropriating both central funds is similar, under the written instructions of the Education Minister, Punjab”.
It further said that the Education Minister bypassing the Director General School Education (DGSE) Punjab, appointed a there member committee comprising his loyal officers and directed them to proceed with tendering for books as well as science kits. Tenders were floated in a very low circulation local newspaper, without mentioning the heads of the SSA or RMSA central schemes.
“Dubious firms who had no experience in dealing with books were awarded the tenders at costs much more than that of the market, both of the books as well as the science kits for students”, the memorandum stated.
PPCC delegation brought to notice of HRD Minister that forced to act under immense public pressure, the Chief Minister Punjab, has now ordered a judicial inquiry headed by a retired judge. It is also astonishing that while the government continues to shield the accused Education Minister, it has chosen to suspend the three officials appointed by the Minister for the wrongful tendering process. Why has the Minister not been punished, who is responsible for appointing the committee that indulged in embezzlement, they pointed out, and said, “Our contention is that the so called judicial inquiry is a farce, and an attempt to procure a clean chit for the Minister, after making some junior level officials as scapegoats”.
PPCC leaders said that there was no chance that the Punjab government. would take any concrete action against the minister. Therefore, for the truth to emerge, it is highly imperative that initially a fact finding team of your department be sent to Punjab, to uncover the scandal.
The other members of the delegation were Ravneet Singh Bittu MP, Gurpreet Singh Kangar Vice President, Charanjit Singh Channi, Vice Presidents PPCC and MLA, Tarlochan Singh Sond Vice President, MLAs Jagmohan Singh Kang, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Brahm Mohindra, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Joginder Singh, Mohammad Sadiq, Parminder Singh Pinki, Charanjeet Kaur Bajwa, Guriqbal Kaur, Harchand Kaur, State Congress Spokesman and former MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Jagbir Singh Brar, Makhan Singh former MLAs.