Senior Congress leader and MLA Pargat Singh has raised serious concerns after reports emerged that furniture allegedly belonging to the Punjab MLA Hostel was auctioned in the United States for more than ₹59 lakh.
In a statement issued on social media, Pargat Singh accused the Punjab government of failing to protect the state’s historical and legislative assets. He alleged that after burdening Punjab with increasing debt and selling state resources, the ruling government has now allowed Punjab’s legislative heritage to be put on the international auction market.
According to Singh, furniture carrying inventory markings associated with the Punjab MLA Hostel reportedly surfaced at a US-based auction house and was subsequently sold for a substantial amount. Calling the development “shocking,” he demanded a transparent investigation into how the items left India and reached a foreign auction platform.
The Congress MLA posed several questions to the Punjab Government. He asked who authorized the movement and sale of the heritage assets, how the items reached an auction house in the United States, and whether all necessary legal permissions and clearances were obtained before the objects were exported from India.
Pargat Singh asserted that Punjab’s heritage is not a commodity that can be sold and emphasized that assets linked to the state’s legislative institutions carry historical and cultural significance. He urged both the government led by Bhagwant Mann and the Central Government to explain how such assets were allegedly allowed to leave the country and enter the international auction market.
The former minister also called upon Kultar Singh Sandhwan to take note of the matter and ensure that a thorough inquiry is conducted. He maintained that the people of Punjab deserve complete transparency and accountability regarding the handling of public and historical assets.
As of now, there has been no official response from the Punjab Government or the Punjab Legislative Assembly regarding the allegations. The matter is likely to attract political attention in the coming days, with opposition parties demanding answers about the reported sale of items linked to Punjab’s legislative heritage.