Amritsar: Following the victory of The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab assembly elections, future Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and AAP national president and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal held a roadshow in Amritsar on Sunday (March 13, 2022). Earlier, Mann gave a warm welcome to Kejriwal, Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, Raghav Chadha at the airport. Congress leader, Alka Lamba has attacked the AAP over the expenses incurred on the roadshow and Bhagwant Mann's swearing-in ceremony. He alleged that a total of 2 crores 61 lakh rupees are being spent from the government exchequer on the roadshow.
Congress leader and Delhi MLA Alka Lamba took to Twitter to expose AAP's use of government machinery to further the interests of the party soon after winning in Punjab in the assembly elections. Sharing a screenshot of an administrative order, Alka Lamba wrote, "AAP had come to change politics...? AAP has started looting public money... Rs 15 lakh is being spent on Arvind Kejriwal's roadshow and Rs 46 lakh has been ordered to be given from the government exchequer for roadshows in the districts. First congratulations to Punjab and Punjabis. In fact, a notice has been issued to government officials in Punjab, including principal secretaries, commissioners, divisional commissioners and SPs appointed by the chief secretary in various districts of Punjab, to make necessary arrangements for the visit of Bhagwant Mann and elected MLAs, nominated for the CM's post, to Amritsar on March 13. The notice has alerted the authorities to make necessary traffic and security arrangements for the proposed roadshow and for planned visits to religious centres like Harmandir Sahib, Durgiana Temple and Ram Tirath.
The notice further stated that he should send Rs 15 lakh to deputy commissioner Amritsar with immediate effect for the roadshow. The Chief Secretary in the letter has ordered that he deposit Rs 2 lakh each in the bank accounts of the Deputy Commissioners of all the 23 districts of Punjab for arranging the roadshow. Secretary Transport was also written to arrange buses for workers going for the roadshow. Commissioner Municipal Corporation Amritsar has been directed by the Chief Secretary to assist during the roadshow. In this way, AAP's roadshow in Punjab will cost a total of Rs 61 lakh from the state exchequer.
Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira raised the question and said that it is a gross misuse of government money. On the one hand, Punjab has a debt of three lakh crores and the government machinery is being misused along with the exchequer for its publicity from above. Khaira tweeted alleging that the roadshow is completely political and has been done to promote the party. All this is not tolerable. Tagging Arvind Kejriwal, she said that he should immediately deposit the money of the people in the government's treasury.
In another tweet, Khaira said he used to think that AAP would work separately as per its promises. They started misusing the government machinery before assuming power. AAP is misusing transport for its roadshow. By doing so, the party has proved that there is no difference between and between the traditional parties. It is alleged that the administration is also spending Rs 2 crore for the swearing-in ceremony of the Bhagwant Mann government. Alka Lamba has shared the government's order for the same, which revealed that the department of revenue and rehabilitation has been asked to allocate Rs 2 crore to the DC of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar to arrange the mega event. Thus 2 crores 61 lakh has been spent on Kejriwal's roadshow and swearing-in ceremony of the AAP government, which has been condemned by Congress. Around 1 lakh people are likely to attend the March 16 ceremony.
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