Congress leader Navjot Sidhu on Wednesday sought details of the Bhagwant Mann government's expenditure on helicopters and planes, accusing the government of using public funds for "luxurious arrangements" for AAP campaigns in other states.
Sidhu has written to the secretary of the Civil Aviation Department, Punjab seeking information under the Freedom of Information Act. The Congress leader said that the AAP government has been using the aircraft for the past one-and-a-half years for election campaigning in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and other states. "We have learned that the Punjab government has used the official state helicopter several times and also hired fixed-wing aircraft for campaigning and traveling on party business. I need information on various accounts under RTI," he wrote. "As the state government has to bear the financial burden of leasing fixed-wing aircraft, please inform the following," the former minister wrote. "First, how many times has the private jet been chartered by the state government in the last year and a half, where were all the planes taken, what was the purpose and what was the bill for all the flights and plane charters, including plane rentals. and airport charges, Sidhu wrote. It was also established that the government helicopter was also used for campaign purposes in various states, the Congress leader said. "I too am looking for similar information in this regard," he said. "Since your department is responsible for leasing and payment of expenses, please also provide the hourly rental cost of fixed-wing aircraft," wrote the former MLA. Later, speaking to reporters, the former Congress leader asked why public funds are being used for "luxurious arrangements" and "why Punjab's resources are being stolen".
"They (planes) were used for campaigns in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and other states," he claimed. Attacking the AAP government on the national debt issue, Sidhu said, "What was said and what is happening now."