Chandigarh: Punjab Congress President Partap Singh Bajwa on Friday demanded the sacking of Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka in the wake of alleged purchase of books and other study material at exorbitant prices. Bajwa said in a statement in Chandigarh on Friday that the book scam in Education Department had "exposed the arrogance and moral bankruptcy of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal who is not ready to act against Maluka."
He said, "The book scam which appeared to be only an embezzlement of central funds has now cropped up a bizarre case of unparallelled political corruption." He said that the way Chief Minister was shielding the education minister, it shows the arrogance and lack of resolve in containing corruption in his government. The PPCC Chief said that he was shocked to see the comments against national and state leaders as given in the books supplied to primary school children.
"The Congress party can't tolerate the insult of national leaders and Chief Minister owes a public apology besides taking strict action against Maluka," he added. The scam of this magnitude and nature should be investigated by an independent agency like CBI or a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Congress demanded. He said the scam involved purchase of books for libraries, practical books, science kits and map masters. "The panel selected for the tendering was all close men of Maluka and they are now being made scapegoat to save the skin of minister," he said and asked Badal to explain his "political compulsions" behind protecting Maluka.
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