Manpreet Badal was the finance minister in the Parkash Singh Badal's Cabinet too, but he parted ways with Akali Dal and Badal family in 2010
Punjab Finance Minister has rejected the proposal seeking armoured sedans for former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, and cousin, Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who are not in good terms with the minister.
The proposal was sent by Punjab police security wing and sought to replace Toyota Land Cruisers with new armoured sedans. The proposal also included demands for bullet-proof cars, Toyota Innova and Mareuti Gypsy, as escort vehicles for VVIPs including Sukhbir's brother-in-law and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia. The cost of the vehicles was estimated at Rs 9 crore.
Hindustan Times reported Congress Minister Manpreet stating that the Badals and Majithia are one of the richest people in north India. They do not have to depend on the government for resources and can very well afford bullet-proof vehicles.
However, the proposal to upgrade Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s car has been approved and he will get new fleets of Range Rover, Innovas and Gypsies.
Currently, following poor revenue growth due to application of Goods and Services Tax (GST), the Congress government (Transport Department and Finance Department) in Punjab has approved a policy, asking all ministers and legislators to use their own vehicles and to claim reimbursements later with driver's salary as per the DC rate.
When Parkash Singh Badal was the Chief Minister, the Badals had upgraded their vehicle from Mitsubishi Monteros to Toyota Land Cruisers. Badal had Rs 1.7 crore worth Range Rover. An additional cost of Rs 35 lakh was spent to make it bullet proof.
Minister Manpreet Badal was also the Finance Minister in the Parkash Singh badal's Cabinet, but parted ways with Akali Dal and Parkash Badal's family in 2010. Currently, Manpreet Badal is the Finance Minister from Congress and in the last budget presented by him, he lashed out at the Akali government and pointed out that the Dal had left the state exchequer empty.
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