Bharitya Janata Party Member of Parliament and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday asked the SAD-BJP-led Punjab Government to order a judicial probe into the diversion of funds that were meant for development projects in Amritsar.
Charging Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal of 'talking big' without showing anything on the ground, Sidhu visited an old waste dumping ground on the outskirts of the city, and said the mounds of the dirt spoke louder than words, and was a glaring example of how the city has been 'ignored' and 'sidelined' as far as development is concerned.
Sidhu took the media along and asked them to click pictures of the neglect and how various development projects, including a sports complex, were pending for want of funds.
He also issued a letter that hesaid he had shot off to Badal, alleging anomalies in the funds which were diverted.
He claimed that the diverted funds were to the tune of Rs.60 crores, and added that it was taken away from the Amritsar Improvement Trust.
He said the money was meant to be used for the development of the city and sought a probe how the major portion of the money was diverted to the municipalities of Kotakpura, Mansa, Tarn Taran, Quadian and Nawan Shahar.
He said the probe should be ordered and completed within ten days and strict action should be taken against the officials involved in the process.
Meanwhile, Municipal Corporation Commissioner D.P.S. Khabanda informed that various projects, including a city bus service, solid waste management, widening of roads and international sports stadium are on cards.
