Viral video: No names on plaques, says Capt
NAME GAME Video shows minister Dahramsot threatening govt school principal for not putting his name on top of foundation stone
NABHA/CHANDIGARH : Cabinet minister Sadhu Singh Dharmsot was caught on video threatening a school principal when he saw his name at the third place on the inauguration plaque. Reacting to this, CM Capt Amarinder Singh prohibited inclusion of names of any government functionaries on foundation stones.
NABHA/CHANDIGARH: The Congress declared to shun VIP culture when it came to power in Punjab, but cabinet minister Sadhu Singh Dharmsot did not seem to have got the message. The MLA from Nabha lost his temper when he saw his name at the third place, not at the top, on the inauguration plaque of a building at a local government school on Thursday. The drama, including his suspension threat to the principal, was caught on video and went viral on Friday.
Reacting, chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh later on Friday prohibited the inclusion of names of any government functionaries, including ministers and MLAs, on foundation stones and inaugural plaques. The CM himself is not excluded from these orders, which are aimed at building a stronger connect between the government and the people by removing the VIP culture barriers, a spokesperson said on Friday.
All projects and programmes would from now be “dedicated to the people of Punjab”, Amarinder has announced. The CM has also urged his ministerial and party colleagues to be humble in dealing with any member of the public. But he mentioned no express reasons in the press note for his decision.
In the video that went viral on social media, Dharamsot is seen as telling principal Nishi Jalota, “I can suspend you immediately for this mistake. Aren’t you aware, who is the chief guest ?” Despite video evidence, he later denied having anything.
He even added that he sensed corruption in the construction of the building: “I think the amount spent on the building is too much. Mainu kuch gadbad lagdi ae,” said the minister. However, school teachers and the principal said they were open for any kind of inquiry.
The teachers said around Rs 1 crore has been spent on the construction with the help of funds from donors (over Rs 50 lakh) and the rest as government grants.
School teachers have also donated Rs 9 lakh. The then director general of school education, Krishan Kumar, had formed a committee comprising officials, the principal and donors to construct the building at Government Senior Secondary Girls School that has 2,000 students.
WHOSE NAME WAS ABOVE THE MINISTER’S?
On top was the name of Manju Mangal, a former student of the school, and second was that of her industrialist brother Rakesh Kumar, who put in the money and effort for the building as a tribute to their late mother Santosh Devi, who wished to work for girls’ education.
The principal said there was some confusion in the making of the plaque.
Rakesh Kumar expressed sadness over the controversy and said it was just a communication gap.
The minister’s phone was switched off since the incident.