‘Refusal’ of grants to Cong panchayats irks Manpreet

Bharat Khanna

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 25

The alleged refusal of grants by Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal to Congress-backed panchayats in her constituency during Sangat Darshan programmes has invited the ire of her brother-in-law Manpreet Badal.

He said: “Eh paise jo Harsimrat ya CM Sahab Sangat Darshan ch takseem krde ne, eh ehna de baap di jaidaat nai hai (The money being disbursed by Harsimrat or Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during Sangat Darshans is not their property).”

“The money is taken as tax from the people of Punjab and it is given in their (government) hands with trust. But these leaders discriminate while distributing grants and that is the reason that people don’t like them,” he claimed.

A video reportedly showing Harsimrat refusing grant to the panchayat of Gurne-khurd village in Mansa as a punishment for taking people to Congress’ Baisakhi rally in Talwandi Sabo had gone viral recently.

Sarpanch Gursangat Singh, who figured in the video, claimed that he was invited to a Sangat Darshan programme at Kulria village on April 17, but he was refused grant by Harsimrat for taking a gathering to Captain’s rally.

“She confirmed our participation in the rally from me and said now you take grants from Amarinder. We left the place after being insulted. Earlier, she had refused grants to many Congress-backed panchayats,” he alleged.

A few days ago, panchayats of Bir Behman and Behman Diwana which were invited at a Sangat Darshan at Balluana village of Bathinda staged a protest after these were refused grants.

Manpreet today visited the local grain markets where farmers have been complaining of non-payment and slow pace of lifting their produce.

On Harsimrat’s demand for making files of Operation Bluestar public, Manpreet said: “The Congress has no objection over making the files public, but it is a fact that such issues are raised by the Akali Dal only at the time of elections.”