Mann orders enquiry into post-matric scholarship irregularities

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday announced a comprehensive enquiry into the irregularities in the post-matric scholarship scheme for nailing the guilty of this heinous crime against students of weaker and underprivileged sections.

The CM's announcement is likely to lead to more trouble for former social welfare minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot who is in judicial custody following his arrest by Vigilance Bureau in a corruption case.

"My government is committed for ensuring that oil and truth comes out in this scheme so that embezzlers are punished as per the law," said the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister assured the people of Punjab that this enquiry will be a bear thread analysis to ascertain every lapse and embezzlement of the public money under the post matric scholarship scheme.

He said that these discrepancies are an intolerable crime against the weaker and underprivileged strata of society adding that anyone found involved in this will not be spared and severest of severe action will be taken against them.

Bhagwant Mann said that the barbaric embezzlement of the funds under the post matric scholarship scheme has ruined the bright future of millions of Schedule Caste students by depriving them of quality higher education. Mann said that these irregularities were a day light robbery over the interests of the weaker sections and his government would sit on its hands for allowing the culprits to move freely.

He bemoaned that rather than acting against the guilty, the successive Akali and Congress governments have patronised the politicians and bureaucrats who were involved in this sinister move. Bhagwant Mann said that not only this but the Akali, BJP and Congress leadership have also connived with each other to ensure that the perpetrators of this crime evade any action.

"The guilty of these irregularities will be made answerable for the loot of every single penny from the state exchequer," he added.