Cong seeks CAG audit of expenditures on Sangat Darshan events

Alleging that "illegitimate" money was being spent on 'Sangat Darshan' events of the Punjab government, Congress today demanded a special CAG audit of the expenditures on the programme.
"In the past over seven years of his regime, (Parkash Singh) Badal has spent close to Rs 21,000 crore on 'Sangat Darshan' programmes and by the end of his 10-year term this money will be around Rs 30,000 crore. The money spent through Sangat Darshan programmes is unauthorised and illegitimate," Punjab Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa told reporters here.
"Congress demands a special audit by CAG of the money spent in these programmes," he said.

Bajwa also sought a 'white paper' from the state government on the utilisation of money given to Punjab during the UPA regime under various Central schemes.
The fiscal position of Punjab is "critical" as the state is under a debt of Rs 2 lakh crore, Bajwa claimed.
Bajwa asked the state government to come out with a 'white paper' on state finances, beginning 1997, along with details of the special term loan extended to the state by the Centre during its fight against terrorism and the loan waiver announced by the Centre from time to time.

Under the 'Sangat Darshan' programmes, Badal meets people at different places to redress their grievances on the spot.

Taking a dig at Badal for forging an alliance with Om Parkash Chautala-led Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) for the upcoming polls in Haryana and keeping away from BJP which is its ally in Punjab, Bajwa said, "its an uneasy alliance".
"Badals are doing everything for their vested interests," he said.