Jalandhar, K’thala admns allow new SAD candidates to give govt freebies

JALANDHAR: Even as Nawanshahr Deputy Commissioner has issued directions to all departments that no unauthorised person should be allowed to distribute government grants or items, the same is not being followed in other districts where the administrations have been allowing Akali candidates, without any constitutional posts, to distribute freebies.

Ex-MLA and Akali candidate from the Jalandhar Cantonment Sarabjeet Makkar distributes government cheques in Jalandhar. A Tribune Photograph

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 30

Even as Nawanshahr Deputy Commissioner has issued directions to all departments that no unauthorised person should be allowed to distribute government grants or items, the same is not being followed in other districts where the administrations have been allowing Akali candidates, without any constitutional posts, to distribute freebies.

While SAD candidate from Jalandhar Cantonment and ex-MLA Sarabjeet Makkar and Phillaur Akali constituency in charge Baldev Khaira have remained in news for being allowed to distribute cycles, blue cards and cheques under various schemes of the state government, now the same is being followed by the party in Kapurthala too.

The party’s new candidate Paramjit Pamma today went to Government Senior Secondary School at Khukhrain village in Kapurthala and distributed cycles under the Mai Bhago scheme to 29 students there. Clearly, the administrations of Jalandhar and Kapurthala have been working at the behest of their political bosses and allowing the new Akali candidates to gain mileage in their respective areas ahead of the elections.

However, when asked, the administrative officers have been getting away, saying they have no information about such works being done. As Makkar distributed cheques four days ago, Jalandhar DC KK Yadav tried to wriggle out of the situation, saying he would inquire about the matter from the District Development and Panchayat Officer. Earlier, the wife of Akali candidate from Phillaur had distributed blue cards.

Similarly, DC Kapurthala Gurloveleen Singh today tried to pass the buck. “I was away and I am completely unaware about the distribution of bicycles by the Akali candidate. I will get it checked tomorrow.”

Ex-MLA and Congress leader Jagbir Brar said, “Allowing persons without any constitutional posts to distribute government freebies is in complete defiance of the guidelines and the bureaucracy is conniving with them for the same. I am in the process of issuing a legal notice to those who signed cheques distributed by Makkar in Cantonment. Then on, I will definitely take the matter to the Punjab and Haryana High Court too”.