Terming it "discriminatory and arbitrary", Punjab Ekta Party president and legislator Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Wednesday objected to a move by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to release development funds of Rs. 5 crore each to the ruling Congress legislators in Punjab.

"Your decision to release a development fund of Rs. 5 crore to each of the ruling party MLAs is an ill-conceived, partisan and immoral act. It will be grave injustice to the people who voted for non-Congress parties. The people have the constitutional right to choose their representatives and discriminating against them would weaken the institution of democracy," Khaira said in a letter to the Chief Minister.

While pointing out that the distribution of development funds to Members of the Legislative Assembly is from the public exchequer, Khaira questioned Amarinder's logic to invite only Congress legislators to list the issues of their respective constituencies and the development work required in meetings with him.

"It is a matter of grave concern that you have not invited opposition MLAs to know the development needs of their constituencies. As Chief Minister, you represent the people of the whole state irrespective of their political affiliations, caste and creed. Distributing development funds only to Congress legislatures would lower the stature of the Chief Minister's office and shatter the faith of the people in you. As an administrative head of the state people expect from you, equality in delivery of services to each and every citizen," Khaira said.

"It will be in the best interest of the state to release desired development funds to MLAs of the 117 assembly constituencies as is the pattern for giving fixed funds to Members of Parliament. The people of the state pay taxes to fill the government coffers and these funds are meant to be spent rationally for welfare of the whole state. The Congress party is not the custodian of the public money," Khaira said.

He said that if the Chief Minister did not take corrective action, he will move the Punjab and Haryana High Court to seek directions for rational distribution of development funds only through elected representatives of people.

--IANS

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