Punjab Outlook News Report: Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira has raised questions over the Punjab government’s Tirath Bus Yatra scheme launched under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, alleging irregularities in the selection of vendors, the hiring of buses from outside Punjab, and the rates being charged per pilgrim. Khaira has demanded a Vigilance Bureau inquiry into the arrangements, calling for transparency and accountability in the use of public money.
In a statement posted on social media, Khaira claimed that none of the seven vendors associated with the scheme was from Punjab and that the buses hired for the pilgrimage programme had been brought from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and other states. He also questioned the reported per-person rates, describing them as excessive and demanding a detailed examination of the financial arrangements.
Khaira alleged that the vendor arrangements raised serious questions about the procurement process and public expenditure. He accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of allowing a system that, in his view, required independent scrutiny. He further alleged that the vendors could be sharing financial benefits with AAP leaders based in Delhi. These are allegations made by Khaira and have not been independently established.
The Congress leader has called for the Punjab Vigilance Bureau to investigate the selection of all seven vendors, the contracts awarded, the origin and hiring costs of the buses, the per-pilgrim expenditure and the process through which payments are being made. He has demanded that the government make the relevant financial and contractual details public.
The controversy puts the spotlight on the need for transparency in a publicly funded pilgrimage programme. The government’s response, the tender documents, comparative bids, contract terms and actual payments would be important in determining whether the rates are justified and whether procurement rules were followed.
As of the information available in Khaira’s statement, his allegations should be treated as claims requiring verification rather than established evidence of corruption. A transparent inquiry could help establish the facts, clarify the vendor-selection process and determine whether public funds have been spent in accordance with the applicable rules. No official response from the Punjab government was included in the material provided