AAP, SAD demand sacking of Dharamsot

CHANDIGARH : Opposition parties on Thursday demanded the dismissal of Punjab Scheduled Castes/backward Classes (SC/ BC) welfare minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot and also sought the registration of a criminal case against him.

They claimed that Dharamsot had been indicted in a Rs 64 crore SC scholarship scam in a report prepared by the principal secretary of his department. The AAP has demanded a time-bound probe into the post-matric scholarship scheme scams under the scrutiny of a sitting judge of Punjab and Haryana high court. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has demanded the recovery of the money usurped from the state exchequer, threatening to launch an agitation if this was not done. The National Scheduled Castes Alliance has demanded CBI inquiry into the matter. Dharamsot said he was willing to face any inquiry, if the allegations are found to have even an iota of truth. “The facts, documents, and irregularities and arbitrariness figured in the department’s report are enough to take action against Dharamsot and his gang,” said leader of opposition Harpal Singh Cheema.

SAD’S Bikram Singh Majithia and Pawan Tinu said it was shocking that Dharamsot had been found guilty of disbursing funds received for scholarship for SC students . Dharamsot, however, said that his government had been fighting with the Centre to get scholarship on time. “Even today, the Centre has held back Rs 1,550 crore. I have been taking up the issue daily,” he said.