Patiala: Former AAP minister for freedom fighters and defenc ..
1,THE MINSITER ALSO RECOMMENDED DISMISSAL OF GURDIAN OF GOVERNANCE STARETD BY CAPT AMARINDR SINGH
2. HE HAS ALSO RECOMMENDED REMOVAL OF DY DIRECTOR OF SAINIK WELFARE BOARD AND NOW ALL 24 DISTRICTS SAINIK WELFARE BOARDS ARE WITHOUT DY DIRECTORS RESULTING ESM AND WIDOWS FACING HARDSHIPS FOR PAPER WORKS ABOUT PENSIONS ETC
Read more at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/111009777.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Fauja Singh Sarari has been accused of misusing funds meant for welfare of ex-servicemen
or their widows and orphan children by allegedly making the Sainik Welfare Department
purchase two air tickets of Rs 39,800 for his personal use on Dec 9, 2022.
Sarari, who resigned as a minister in Jan last year following corruption allegations — he was allegedly heard in an audio clip of “fixing a deal to extort money — was asked by the department on June 6, 2023, to repay the amount. According to a letter (a copy of which is with TOI), the department mentioned that on “his verbal orders two tickets costing Rs 19,900 each from Ahmedabad to Chandigarh were booked through Uniglobe Shergill Travels and payment was made by taking loan from flag day fund”. “So, it is requested to repay the amount to the department,” the letter had said.
Later, there were unconfirmed reports that Sarari handed over a cheque of the amount to the department, but there was no official confirmation.
Punjab Defence Services Welfare director Brig B S Dhillon (retd) said he was unaware of the matter as he was not in-charge at that time. “I would check if any repayment has been made,” he added. When asked if there was any provision to use the fund for personal purposes by the department’s minister or authorities, Dhillon replied, “I do not think so. The authorities might have thoughtfully considered giving a temporary loan for the purpose although the fund is meant for welfare services of ex-servicemen.” Sarari, when contacted, said, “I do not remember about any purchase of air tickets. What is the business or role of yours or the media in this matter? It is a matter of the department. You are disturbing me as I am busy somewhere.”
Recently, Defence Services Welfare Officer Association in a letter to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann has blamed Sarari of misusing the department funds during the Gujarat assembly elections in 2022.
Fund utilisation objective
The objective of the ‘flag day fund’ is to give financial assistance to ex-servicemen or their widows in penury or their orphan children, to disabled ex-servicemen or those above 65 years of age in penury, ex-servicemen incapacitated by ailments or serious accidents, blind, bedridden, suffering from terminal diseases or affected by any calamity or terrorist blast. Director Defence Services, Punjab, is authorised to sanction a temporary loan up to Rs 1 lakh at directorate level and DSWOs of Rs 10,000 at district level.
The so-called Kattar Imandar party’s lies about zero tolerance against corruption again stand exposed. Former @AAPPunjab minister Fauja Singh Sarari has been again accused of misusing funds meant for the welfare of ex-servicemen or their widows and orphan children by allegedly making the Sainik Welfare Department purchase two air tickets of Rs 39,800 for his personal use on Dec 9, 2022. Earlier his name was cropped up in an extortion call case. The AAP govt has failed miserably to take action against its tainted minister—PRATAP SINGH BAJWA ON X TWITTER