‘Review expenditure on luxury cars given to leaders, rtd cops, preachers’

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA and the Leader of Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha Sukhpal Khaira on Sunday urged the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to review the gigantic “unproductive” expenditure on luxury cars, among other things provided to the Badals, Majithia, Hindu Shiv Sena leaders, retired police officers and other religious preachers.

Khaira called upon the Chief Minister to take stock of the situation and save as much money as possible by curtailing the security of “unwanted” people and deploy more policemen for police stations, as there was no night patrolling in the urban and rural areas.

In a letter to the Chief Minister, Khaira drew Capt Amarinder’s attention towards reports highlighting the issue of “gigantic unproductive expenditure” being incurred in shape of costly luxurious vehicles, huge security paraphernalia and unlimited fuel provided to some of the leaders, heads of political outfits, retired police officers and religious preachers by the government, at a time when the public exchequer is financially wrecked and under a colossal burden of Rs 2.5 lakh crores.

“I am shocked to learn how generous your Government is towards the political leaders, who do not face threat to their lives and yet the state government is spending unlimited amount of money,” said Khaira.

He pointed that expenditure on fuel and salaries of drivers alone cost the state Rs 12 crore annually, and the total estimated cost of providing this facility is costing public exchequer more than Rs 100 crore every year.

“Former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has nine cars in his security including costly SUVs like Toyota Land Cruisers and his son Sukhbir Badal has seven cars fleet in his security, while Bikram Singh Majithia has four cars. They have no limit on consumption of petrol and diesel. Badal is not very mobile after his party’s defeat in 2017 Vidhan Sabha elections,” said Khaira.

He said: “Both senior and junior Badals do not need such a huge security setup to look after them, as Punjab has been completely peaceful after the end of militancy in the early 90s. Badals are now one of the richest businessmen of Punjab and they can easily afford to have paid security. Otherwise, the state government can scale down their security. Similarly, Bikram Majithia also does not need any big size security.”

Khaira added that there are nearly two dozen Hindu outfits, known as Shiv Sena, which have been provided security heavily, and these outfits do not represent the majority community and most of these leaders are mischievous elements.

“They have raised these outfits in order to secure the state security. You have seen what happened at Phagwara due to the divisive and foolish actions of the leaders of these outfits,” he added.

Similarly, the Sikh high priests including the jathedars of Akal Takhat, Takhat Damdama Sahib Talwandi Sabo and SGPC president have also been provided security by the state government, he said adding that SGPC can provide security and vehicle to them as they are SGPC employees which has huge income from gurudwaras and an annual budget of over Rs 1,100 crores.

Khaira said that the self-styled president of All India Anti-Terrorist Front Maninderjit Singh Bitta and his wife are also enjoying heavy security, which should also be curtailed.

Besides, a number of senior police officers, who have retired, are having number of vehicles with free fuel. “No doubt some of them were involved in fighting the militancy, but there should be no wasteful expenditure on their security. Some of serving bureaucrats have also got police security and vehicles which are used by their wives,” he noted.

Khaira told the Chief Minister that you are fully aware of the state’s financial crisis in Punjab and a very large number of widows are not getting their pensions, besides serving government employees not getting their salaries on the first day of the month and social welfare schemes like free atta-dal and blue card holders are being denied benefits because of the financial crunch.

“I have noticed that you are trying to take some baby steps in the name of austerity like asking Ministers to pay their own income tax, urging well off farmers to shun tubewell subsidy etc, but on the other hand, you are turning a complete blind eye to the colossal expenditure being incurred upon the security and vehicles of these leaders,” said Khaira while describing the current austerity measures as “penny wise and pound foolish”, unless a review was carried out of the lopsided security or vehicles facility to the leaders.