SAD charge on Covid relief fund baseless, says Capt Amarinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 25

Reacting strongly to the SAD attack on his government on the CM Covid Relief Fund, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Saturday expressed shock at the “petty politics being played by the Akalis”.

Terming the SAD remarks as “shameful”, he said, “Never in my political life have I seen such petty politics.” “It is a question of life and death, and the future of Punjab,” said Captain Amarinder, stressing there should be no politics on such a grave issue.

In his weekly #AskCaptain live interaction on Facebook, Captain Amarinder said the Rs 64 crore lying in the CM Relief Fund were meant for Covid assistance and would be spent on it. Pointing out that the disease had still not peaked, the Chief Minister said his government had already spent over Rs 300 crore on Covid care, treatment and other related expenses. The government expects to spend another Rs 200 crore on relief work.

‘Ineligible removed from pension plan’

The Chief Minister claimed the 70,000 beneficiaries removed from the ambit of social security were fraudulent persons, who were drawing benefits at the cost of genuine ones. He said Rs162.35 crore had been recovered from them.