Khaira questions state govt over leasing of college to private society

Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira has raised concerns over the Punjab government’s decision to lease the Baba Hira Singh Bhattal Institute of Engineering and Technology, Lehragaga, to a private society. He questioned why the state chose to hand over the publicly funded campus instead of converting it into a government-run medical college.

In a statement, Khaira urged Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to release full details of the lease arrangement, including the identity and credentials of the private society, the terms and conditions of the agreement, cabinet approvals, and any financial implications for the state.

Khaira said the decision appears inconsistent with the government’s stated commitment to strengthening public healthcare and its earlier promise to establish 16 new medical colleges in Punjab. He argued that using the existing infrastructure for a government medical college could have benefited students and improved healthcare access in regions such as Sangrur district.

The MLA also said the government should explain how the private society was selected and whether public interest was prioritised in the process.