Bathinda, Punjab (September 1, 2014): Admitting that the corruption is at the peak in Punjab government offices, Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday asked government officers to disclose their share in government projects.
While redressing grievance of a farmer during a sangat darshan (public contact) programme at Gurusar village in Talwandi Sabo assembly constituency, he also asked officials how they divided the commission.
The video of the entire episode has hit social sites for a couple of days.
Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal
In his report published in Hindustan Times, senior HT reporter and president Bathinda press club Kamaldeep Singh Brar quoted CM, “I know everything. I am not going to pull you up over this but at least tell me how much you make,”.
It left the gathering in splits and the officials uncomfortable, said the report.
The villagers have alleged delay in the laying of underground pipelines. “Je ehna da kam hou tan thanu vi char paise bachange (Only if you do their work will you get your margin),” said the CM, looking at divisional soil conservation officer Kulbir Singh.
The official attempted to change the topic but the CM was keen to know the breakdown. “What is the share of the chief engineer and executive engineer? Pata mainu saara hai, main tan bas puchh reha (I know everything but I ask you),” he said.
The gathering was all ears to this conversation on microphone. It is not the first time when the CM has acknowledged the corruption in government offices. He has told farmers at rallies that he pays for the electricity they steal to run their tube-wells.