Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann inducted Balbir Singh into his Cabinet Saturday, hours after another minister Fauja Singh Sarari resigned in the backdrop of his name figuring in an extortion scandal.
Mann also reshuffled portfolios of five of his ministers, as Sarari became the second minister after health minister Vijay Singla to drop out over corruption charges.
The Punjab CM had expanded his cabinet in July last year, adding another five ministers — Aman Arora, Chetan Singh Jourmajra, Anmol Gagan Mann, Inderbir Singh Nijjar, and Sarari (who has now resigned).
A medical professional, Balbir Singh was given the health portfolio along with medical education and research. Mann tweeted that Dr Balbir Singh’s education as a medical professional will go a long way in improving the health facilities in the state.
ਪੰਜਾਬ ਕੈਬਨਿਟ ‘ਚ ਨਵੀਂ ਜ਼ਿੰਮੇਵਾਰੀ ਲਈ @AAPbalbir ਜੀ ਨੂੰ ਬਹੁਤ-ਬਹੁਤ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ…ਬਤੌਰ ਡਾਕਟਰ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਸੇਵਾਵਾਂ ਤੇ ਤਜਰਬਾ ਪੰਜਾਬੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਸਿਹਤ ਸੰਬੰਧੀ ਜ਼ਰੂਰ ਫ਼ਾਇਦੇਮੰਦ ਸਿੱਧ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ…ਮੈਨੂੰ ਯਕੀਨ ਹੈ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦਾ ਸਿਹਤ ਖ਼ੇਤਰ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਅਗਵਾਈ ‘ਚ ਨਵੀਆਂ ਬੁਲੰਦੀਆਂ ਤੇ ਪਹੁੰਚੇਗਾ …ਨਵੀਂ ਸ਼ੁਰੂਆਤ ਲਈ ਸ਼ੁਭਕਾਮਨਾਵਾਂ…. pic.twitter.com/JdDgl1gC9j
— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) January 7, 2023
Chetan Singh Jauramajra, who was till now taking care of health portfolio, will now look after the portfolios held by Sarari which included freedom fighters, defence services welfare, food processing and horticulture.
The biggest loser in Saturday’s reshuffle is Harjot Singh Bains who was stripped of key portfolios of mining, water resourcse and jails. While mining and water resources portfolios were handed over to Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Mann decided to keep the jail portfolio with himself.
Meet Hayer’s portfolio of higher education was handed over to Bains, who is already the minister for school education.
Tourism and cultural affairs minister Anmol Gagan Maan was given the additional charge of the hospitality department.
Pressure was piling on Sarari who was facing serious allegations of corruption after an audio clip surfaced in September, barely two months after he was inducted into the Punjab Cabinet. It was alleged that the minister was talking over the mobile phone to his close aide Tarsem Lal Kapoor and discussing plans on how to extort money.
The AAP MLA from Guru Har Sahai had denied the allegations and filed a police complaint.
Despite being on the back foot and severe criticism from the opposition, Mann had not taken any action against the minister. He, however, told the media that notice had been issued to Sarari to explain the allegations against him according to the due process.
After the AAP clinched a historic win in the Punjab polls in March last year, Mann had taken oath as chief minister first at Khatkar Kalan, native village of freedom fighter Shahid Bhagat Singh.
A few days later, Harpal Cheema, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Vijay Singla, Brahm Shankar Jimpa, Harbhajan Singh ETO, Baljit Kaur, Lal Chand, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Laljit Singh Bhullar and Harjot Singh Bains were inducted into the 18-berth cabinet.
Two months after taking oath, Mann sacked health minister Vijay Singla in May over allegations of corruption. The CM had said that the minister was asking for 1 per cent commission on all contracts in his department. Singla was arrested after a case was registered against him.
(Story updated to incorporate changes in Punjab cabinet)
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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