Simarjit Bains claims corruption in post-matric scholarship scheme, launches ‘helpline’

Aparna Banerji
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, June 29

Lok Insaaf Party leader Simarjit Singh Bains launched “a helpline number” on Saturday to help Dalit students receive benefits of Punjab government’s post-matric scholarship scheme—a policy he claimed was riddled with corruption.  

Bains, a Member of Legislative Assembly from Ludhiana, claimed corruption that delayed disbursal of funds and accused both Congress government in Punjab and BJP-SAD government at the Centre for it.

He said: “The state has three ruling parties—the Congress rules the state, SAD-BJP alliance in the Centre. None of them have acted against violators of the scheme. Newly-appointed BJP MP Som Parkash is also associated with the Dalit community. We hope he will take up the issue”.

The party’s new helpline number 7009055421.

“The helpline launched will enable Dalit students denied the scheme benefits to call us. If need be we will give dharnas outside universities, colleges and even the chief minister’s office but will get them their rights”. 

‘Coward’     

Bains called Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu “a coward” for not leaving the Congress despite the growing friction between him and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

A miffed Sidhu has yet to take charge of his new ministry—power, new and renewable energy sources—more than a fortnight since the chief minister announced his cabinet reshuffle.  

Speaking about the increasingly public spat between the two Congress leaders, Bains said Sidhu was a “little bit of a coward” (thore darpok kisam de bande hai) for not leaving the Congress despite the party’s “snubs”.   

“We’ve been saying it since the beginning… that he wouldn’t be treated well in the Congress. Sidhu should take a bold stand. I respect him. He’s honest, if a little bit of a coward. He should take a bold decision. Don’t say much and stand by what you’ve already said.  You don’t stand by your words. You say one thing today, and another the next day. That’s not right. Take a bold call. (Main respect bari kardan ohna di. Imandar bande ne. Thore darpok haige. Sidhu daleri vala faisla lave. Zyada bolo na, je bolo oste pehra deo. Tusi bol jaane o murk e pehra nahi dinde. Ajj bol ke kal twist karo, theek nahi, Daleri naal faisal lain).”

He also claimed both Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Sidhu were both adamant because they were afraid of “losing their face”.

“If Capt brings him to local bodies, he’d lose face. And if Sidhu becomes power minister, it would harm his stance. I had told him what happened in BJP, same would happen in Congress. We appeal to him to come to the Punjab Democratic Alliance. The third front is still a viable force in Punjab.”

He also addressed speculations that over Phagwara assembly seat after its previous occupant, BJP’s Som Prakash, was elected into Lok Sabha last month. He claimed LIP was the “rightful claimant”, although his party had yet to discuss it with the Punjab Democratic Alliance—an alliance that former Aam Aam Party Leader Sukhpal Khaira had launched with parties like LIP and fellow AAP rebels like Dharamvira Gandhi before general elections last month.

 Bains also justified his belief of his party’s claim saying LIP candidate Jarnail Singh Nangal got 33,000 votes in Phagwara in 2017 and over 30,000 in Lok Sabha elections in Phagwara, but he quickly added that a decision would be taken only after discussing it with allies.