Gujarat Governor asks for expenses on Modi’s Sadbhavna fast
Mangalore Today /PTI
Gandhinagar, Sept 27: Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal is reported to have asked for details of expenses incurred by the state government on the three-day-long ’sadbhavna’ fast undertaken by chief minister Narendra Modi, Mail Today reports.
Even as the battle over the appointment of Lokayukta is continuing between the Governor and the chief minister, the former has now fired another salvo.
It took place because Mahagujarat Janata Party (MJP) chief Gordhan Zadaphia, a former BJP leader and minister of state for Home during 2002 Gujarat riots, presented to the Governor a memorandum, seeking to know if the ’sadbhavna fast’ programme was that of the state government or of the ruling BJP.
He further raised questions on which department of the state government had borne the cost of the programme and what was the cost. He also asked if the expenses were budgeted and appropriated in the bill presented to the assembly.
Zadaphia also sought to know if the fast venue, which belongs to Gujarat University, was booked by any other agency for the same period and if that had to be cancelled for Modi’s show.
The Gujarat University convention centre was booked by Indian Drugs Manufacturers Association, Gujarat State Board through Orbitz Exhibitors on April 26. They had paid Rs 25 lakh advance for holding an international pharmaceutical exhibition, but this had to be shifted after Modi decided to sit here on fast.
Zadaphia says, the state government cannot spend money from the state public exchequer on the fast without the budgetary approval from the state Assembly. Zadaphia himself has begun his ’samvedana fast’ froom Sunday demanding CBI probe into Haren Pandya murder case, Lokayukta probe into allegations of corruption against Modi government and a ban on cow slaughter.
Zadaphia alleges that Rs 55 crore of public money was spent on Modi’s sadbhavna fast, and the Governor should get details of the expenses from the state government. "The chief minister has misused public funds on his publicity fast", he alleged.While state government officials said almost Rs 6 crore a day was spent on the three-day-long fast, the Congress and Zadaphia peg the total expenses at Rs 55 crore.
The Gujarat University Convention Centre was reportedly booked by the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association-Gujarat State Board in association with Orbitz Exhibitors on April 26. They had reportedly paid Rs 25 lakh in advance for an international pharmaceutical exhibition, but the event was shifted to a different venue after Modi chose to hold his fasting spectacle at university convention centre.
Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/gujarat-governor-kamla-beniwal-narendra-modi-fast/1/152797.htmlThe Gujarat University Convention Centre was reportedly booked by the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association-Gujarat State Board in association with Orbitz Exhibitors on April 26. They had reportedly paid Rs 25 lakh in advance for an international pharmaceutical exhibition, but the event was shifted to a different venue after Modi chose to hold his fasting spectacle at university convention centre.
Zadaphia, who began a 51-hour samvedana fast on Sunday with a five-point demand, maintained that an MJP delegation had informed the governor that the state government was not authorised to spend money from the public exchequer without the consent of the assembly or budgetary approval.
His demands include a probe by the Lokayukta into the allegations of corruption in the government, fresh CBI probe in the Haren Pandya murder case and a ban on cow slaughter.
"We have requested the governor to get an explanation from the government for wasting Rs 55 crore of public money from the exchequer. The CM has misused public funds for his publicity fast, which amounts to open loot. We have requested the governor to get details of accounts and budget allocation for the CM’s fast," Zadaphia said.