Punjab Vigilance Bureau toprobe Rs31K cr foodgrain case

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau will conduct a thorough probe into the Rs 31,000 crore foodgrain scam in the state, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said on Wednesday.

He said that his government would get to the root of the scam and ensure stringent punishment for the guilty.

The Congress, before it came to power in Punjab earlier this month, had rejected the previous government's move to convert the alleged misappropriation of Rs 31,000 crore into a term loan.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the consortium of 33 banks had, last year, refused to provide the Cash Credit Limit (CCL) guarantee to Punjab for purchase of paddy till the foodgrain money was accounted for.

Amarinder Singh told media here on Wednesday that a 'White Paper' on the state's poor financial health would soon be made public to fix the accountability of all those responsible for it.

"The 'White Paper' would be an eye opener for people and will acquaint them with the mismanagement and maladministration of the decade-long 'misrule' of the erstwhile SAD-BJP government," he added.

He assured that not even an inch of any farmers' land would be confiscated at any cost and the state government would bring in a legislation in the soon to secure the rights of the peasantry and ensure that no farmer is harassed by any bank in case of non-payment of outstanding loans. "Banks have been directed not to issue any auction notices to farmers in case of non-payment," he said.

Reiterating that his government would negotiate the loans of the farmers with banks, Amarinder Singh said that the government would safeguard the interests of farmers.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister ordered the transfer of the transport department official responsible for the error on the red beacon issue and ruled out any slowdown on the review and withdrawal of security to political leaders in the state.

Talking to mediapersons in the Vidhan Sabha gallery here, Singh made it clear that there would be no change in his government's red beacon policy, as mandated in the Congress poll manifesto and ratified through a cabinet decision. His government, he said, was fully committed to end the VVIP culture in the state and there would be no further relaxation in the exemptions, barring those laid down by the cabinet.