Punjab's Minister for Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Dairy development and SC/ BC Welfare, Gulzar Singh Ranike on Sunday submitted his resignation to the Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal following the latter's decision to hand over the case to the State Vigilance Bureau for an investigation into allegations of misappropriation of development funds in his constituency, Attari.
An official release quoting a spokesman of the Chief Minister's office, while confirming that the Minister had resigned "voluntarily" and "on moral grounds" said that the same had been forwarded to the Governor, Shivraj Patil.
Mr Ranike becomes the third minister in the six month old Akali Dal-BJP alliance's second consecutive tenure in power. Earlier, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation and Defence Services Minister, Jagir Kaur, had to step down after being convicted in the case related to the mysterious death of her daughter. Agriculture Minister Tota Singh resigned after a special court found him guilty of misuse of official machinery during a previous term. While the three owe allegiance to Shiromani Akali Dal, the strength of the Cabinet has come down to 14.
Following reports and critical stance by various political leaders over alleged misappropriation of rural development fund in Mr Ranike's constituency, the Chief Minister in consultation with Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh, who holds the Home portfolio as well, transferred the investigations from the Amritsar district police to the State Vigilance Bureau.
At least two cases have been registered in which Mr Ranike's personal assistant (PA), Sarbhdyal Singh has been accused of opening bank account in fake names, given as Sarpanches (headmen) of different village panchayats in the Attari constituency of Amritsar district. Funds aggregating to nearly Rs 1.15 crore from the rural development funds were diverted to these accounts. The Minister's aide has been evading arrest ever since the cases were registered.
