NEW DELHI: In a scathing critique of the previous administration, Ashish Sood, the Honorable Minister of Home, Education, Energy, and Urban Development, addressed the Delhi Legislative Assembly today, highlighting the findings of the recent Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report. The report, which exposes alleged mismanagement and corruption, has reignited debates over financial irregularities, including the contentious liquor scam.
The Minister asserted that the CAG report validates the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) long-standing concerns regarding the excise policy under the previous government.
According to the report, the revised excise policy, which increased distributors’ profit margins from 5% to 12%, led to a staggering loss of approximately ₹890 crore to the Excise Department. Sood emphasized that such policies were indicative of systemic mismanagement and a lack of fiscal responsibility.
In his address, the Minister also drew attention to glaring disparities in government spending, which he claimed prioritized self-promotion over public welfare. Key figures highlighted include:
– ₹54 crore allocated for children’s welfare compared to ₹150 crore spent on advertising.
– ₹20 crore spent on the Happiness Festival, while ₹28 crore was used for its promotion.
– ₹2 crore allocated for mentors, with ₹26 crore spent on related advertising.
– ₹12 crore spent on the Desh Bhakti Festival, while ₹22 crore was used for its publicity.
Sood criticized these allocations as indicative of misplaced priorities, arguing that public funds were disproportionately directed toward publicity rather than essential welfare programs.
He demanded the immediate tabling of all pending reports to facilitate a comprehensive discussion on these critical issues.
Reaffirming the current government’s commitment to transparency and accountability, the Minister credited the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta for steering Delhi toward a path of genuine development.
He assured the public that those responsible for misusing public funds would be held accountable, signaling a renewed focus on governance and fiscal prudence.
The address has sparked widespread debate, with opposition leaders questioning the timing and intent of the revelations.
Meanwhile, the BJP has hailed the Minister’s speech as a bold step toward uncovering the truth and ensuring justice for the citizens of Delhi.
As the political discourse intensifies, all eyes remain on the government’s next steps in addressing the issues raised by the CAG report.
