Punjab School Education book scam Bajwa thanks HRD Minister for deputing Central team to probe 'book Scam'

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By 121 News Reporter

Chandigarh, June 13th  :  Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) President Partap Singh Bajwa  welcomed the probe by center government team into infamous 'book scam' involving education minister Sikandar Singh Maluka and thanked the Union Human Resource Development Minister Dr. M. M. Pallam Raju for accepting the demand by PPCC to probe embezzlement of central funds under Sarb Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).

Bajwa said that AICC Vice President Rahul Gandhi who was seized of the matter had also promised him (Bajwa) to probe the matter which is very serious in nature. He said that the so called 'book scam' involves financial as well moral corruption. He said that orders for supply of books worth Rs.42 crores at exonerated rates were given to a company which was manufacturing pipes. He said that Maluka was architect of the scam and he owes moral responsibility to supply of books with vulgar and denigrating comments against national heroes like Mahatma Gandhi and Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. 

Bajwa said that Maluka had done irreparable damage to the reputation of education department and he has been behaving as if he had won laurels for the departments. He said that instead of owing responsibility for the scam, Maluka was adamant not to resign. He said that most unfortunate part was that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal chooses to defend the tainted minister and tried to hush up the matter by holding a sham inquiry. 

Bajwa said that Congress has rejected the inquiry ordered by Chief Minister and nothing less than an inquiry by CBI or sitting judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court would satisfy them. He said that Congress party was continuing its agitation against Maluka to force him to resign from his post. He said that Congress was doing its duty of opposition earnestly. 

Bajwa said that Chief Minister still has an opportunity to order a fair probe and dismiss Maluka from his cabinet. He said that otherwise people of Punjab not forgive the SAD-BJP alliance for playing mischief with them. He said that due to non-supply of books in schools, the study of first quarter of academic year was spoiled. He appealed to teacher community to come forward and denounce the act of Education Minister.