Post-matric scholarship scam shows that Capt Amarinder Singh and his government are anti-Dalit: Raghav Chadha

Ludhiana: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab affairs co-incharge and MLA from Delhi, Raghav Chadha said that the struggle of the Aam Aadmi Party would continue till the roll numbers of two lakh Dalit students were released. Raghav Chadha on Friday visited Ludhiana to support AAP MLA and Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Saravjit Kaur Manuke and senior leader Manwinder Singh Giaspura, who were sitting on a hunger strike against the scam perpetrated by the Captain Amarinder Singh-led Congress government in the post-matric scholarships of Dalit students. On the occasion, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Punjab Assembly, Harpal Singh Cheema, MLA Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, MLA Jagtar Singh Jagga Hissowal, SC Wing state vice president Jeevan Singh Sangowal, senior leader Surinder Farishta, state secretary Amandeep Singh Mohi, among other leaders were also present.

At this juncture, Raghav Chadha said that the Captain Amarinder Singh-led Congress government had squandered crores of rupees in the scholarships of two lakh Dalit students and jeopardized the future of the students. “The intentions of the Captain government in regard with post-matric scholarship scam shows that they don’t like Dalits at all and this government is totally anti-Dalit,” he said. Chadha said that the AAP demands a case to be registered against Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal and Social Welfare Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot under the SC/ST Act, as both these ministers were primarily responsible in ruining the lives of Dalit students. “The Captain government during his tenure has not only embezzled scholarship money but also embezzled crores of rupees in the procurement of vaccines and Fateh kits required for prevention of Covid,” he said.

Chadha said that due to corruption by the Congress party government and infighting among the leaders, the Congress had lost its presence in Punjab and now giving precious votes to the Congress party is nothing but wasting your vote.  “It’s Captain Amarinder Singh government’s endeavor to ensure that the poor remain poor, the down-trodden remain down-trodden and the illiterate remain illiterate; that is why the post-matric scholarship money had been withheld,” he said. Chadha said that the Captain government was not concerned about the welfare and progress of the people of Punjab, but the Congress leaders were trying their best to get the Chief Minister's seat and give government jobs to their sons and daughters.

He said that however the Captain government had released some amount to the private colleges after the Aam Aadmi Party raised its voice against the scam of Dalit students' scholarships, but the students will not be able to sit for their exams till the government releases the balance amount of Rs 1,539 crore. Therefore, the Aam Aadmi Party has decided to fight continuously at the state level till the Dalit students will be issued their roll numbers, he added. Chadha said that earlier we fought with Britishers (Gore angrej) and won the battle but nothing has changed even after Independence and we are forced to fight with dictators like Captain Amarinder Singh (Kaale angrej). “We will fight till last for the rights of Dalit students and their families,” he added. He said that the people of Punjab would take stock of the injustice done to them from Captain Amarinder Singh and the Congress.