Cong out to rob exchequer: SAD

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 10

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday condemned the Congress government for burdening the state exchequer with the appointment of six legislators as advisers in the rank of ministers at a time when it was unable to give mid-day meals, SC scholarships, social welfare benefits, sugarcane dues, DA allowance or even release money for the flood-hit or for celebrating the 550th Parkash Purb of Guru Nanak Dev.

Addressing a press conference, former minister Bikram Singh Majithia said it was shocking that the Congress government had appointed advisers at a time when it was denying due benefits to all sections of society.

“It seems that the Congress is only focused on saving its government from immediate collapse and has in this process even decided to fritter away the scarce resources of the state. This amounts to daylight robbery of the exchequer,” he alleged, adding that with the latest addition the total number of political appointees in the government had risen to 26 with there being 12 advisers, four political secretaries, 9 OSDs and one CPS.

He claimed that the appointments were also apparently illegal and against constitutional norms. “Legislators can’t hold office of profit, which these appointments are,” Majithia added.