Chandigarh, July 23, 2020 (Yes Punjab News)
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today asked chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh to tell Punjabis why the Congress government was not releasing any money accumulated in the CM Relief fund for providing assistance to hospitals, patients as well as those affected adversely by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement here, party Spokesman Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said it was shocking that more than Rs 64 crore was accumulated in a private bank under the CM Relief fund but the money was not being utilized for those suffering due to the pandemic. “As per reports more money is being deposited in the bank on an everyday basis but there is no release of any kind except for two releases of Rs 2.28 crore a long time back”.
The SAD spokesman said corporate houses, businessmen, government employees as well as ordinary citizens had contributed to the CM Relief fund following an appeal for helping Punjabis during a time of a dangerous pandemic.
He said except for two releases of Rs 2.35 crore which involved repatriation of Sikh sangat stranded at Nanded Sahib, citizens and students stranded in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan as well as Rs 35 lakh compensation to the family of police officer Anil Kohli, no money had been released from the fund.
Dr Daljit Cheema said it was shocking that the Congress government had not thought it fit to release money for safety equipment for doctors, ventilators or other infrastructure in hospitals. He said similarly the government did not even think it fit to subsidize the medical treatment of COVID-19 patients who were being forced to pay hefty amounts in private hospitals.
“The government also did not spend money from this fund to halt the flight of migrant labourers from the State as well as offer compensation to labourers as well as skilled workmen who lost their livelihood during the lockdown. Money from this fund can also be used to subsidize the tuition and admission fee of children of private schools whose parents’ earning capacity has been affected during the lockdown”.
The SAD leader said the callous attitude of the Congress government bordered on being inhuman. He said during the lockdown phase the State relied on social organizations including the SGPC to supply food to hospital staff and patients and did not even think it fit to release money from the fund for this essential service. He demanded that the money from the fund be released immediately for relief work.
YesPunjab now has two separate Facebook Pages for English & Punjabi content – Please Like & Share both Pages
English FB Page – https://www.facebook.com/yespunjab/
Punjabi FB Page – https://www.facebook.com/yespunjabpunjabi/
