Pb govt failed to spend Rs 115 meant for SC students: Sampla

Punjab BJP chief Vijay Sampla today accused the Congress government in the state of failing to spend Rs 115 crore meant for Scheduled Caste students under a scholarship scheme.
The Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment charged the Punjab government with spending the funds for post matric scholarship scheme on something else.
"Eight months have passed since a sum of Rs 115 crore had been released to the Punjab government by the Centre for the post matric SC scholarship scheme. Our officials have been reminding the concerned officials in the state government to distribute money and send us the utilisation certificates so that the next instalment can be sent," Sampla told reporters.

"Not even a single penny has been distributed under this scheme by the Punjab government yet," he said.
Sampla said when his ministry asked the state officials what happened to the money, "they say verification is being done".
"As a result of it, the social discrimination of the Dalit student has been rising," he claimed.

Sampla said he himself called up the concerned officials about the spending of the grant. "It appears that they (state government) used Rs 115 crore in some other accounts.
Sampla also alleged that the Congress government was "oppressing" its political opponents ahead of the Municipal Council polls.

He claimed false cases have been filed against members of opposition parties at the behest of the ruling party members.
The Punjab BJP chief urged people to vote for SAD-BJP candidates in the local body polls in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Patiala and other areas on December 17.