Punjab CMO has no info on Badal's Sangat Darshan programmes

The Chief Minister's Office in Punjab has no information about Parkash Singh Badal's Sangat Darshan programmes held across the state, according to a reply given by the CMO to a RTI plea filed by the state Congress.
PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa said in a statement here today that chairman of the RTI Cell of the state unit RR Bhardwaj had filed an application with the Chief Minister's Office seeking details, including disbursal of funds, at the Sangat Darshan programmes of Badal.
But the reply given by the CMO said that the office does not have information relating to the programmes, Bajwa said.

"Sangat Darshan Programmes are organized by the respective Deputy Commissioners in the state. Information related to the Sangat Darshan Programme is not available with the CMO," the reply stated.
It also stated that no complaint regarding alleged misuse of grants disbursed at these programmes has been received.
The Punjab Congress chief said that the party had sought information from the CMO on three matters pertaining to the programme: first - What are the sources through which Sangat Darshan programmes are financed, second- what is criteria for distribution of grants and third- how the state ensures proper utilisation of the funds, and if any complaints were received by the CMO regarding misuse of funds.

Bajwa said he was astonished to know that CMO has no record of Sangat Darshan programmes.
"In fact it was only a political gimmick to befool the people of Punjab. The grants the Chief Minister has been distributing for development purposes are part of grants given by Centre or drawn from the plan expenditure of state."
During Congress government, the job of distributing the same grants was done by officials of Panchayat secretary level or Block Development Officers, he said.