Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari today said that development agenda must be beyond partisan considerations. He said, he had ensured that no area was left out while sanctioning the grant from his discretionary funds during the last five years irrespective of the fact who represented it in the assembly, municipal corporation or the panchayats.Addressing a well attended public function at local gaushala (cow shelter) Tewari said people’s representatives and governments belong to everybody and not to a particular party and they should act accordingly.He disclosed that responding to the demand of the people of Jagraon he had sanctioned Rs 51 lakhs for fire-brigade vehicle in Jagraon a few years ago. However, he regretted, the local Nagar Council authorities and other officials declined to use the money apparently in apprehension that he as a Congress MP might get the advantage.
The Minister said, it was this negative attitude of the ruling Akali-BJP alliance which had pushed the state towards economic disaster. He said, instead of accepting the money provided by him, the Nagar Council had taken a loan for arranging a fire tender. He pointed out, same was the case with the state whose debt under Akali-BJP regime has already crossed Rs one lakh crores.Tewari said that money was still lying in the MP’s account and urged the people of Jagraon to build up pressure against the Nagar Council officials to use that money for buying a fire tender which can be used in case of an emergency.The Minister applauded the efforts of the gaushala management in providing shelter to the cows. He said, it was indeed a great act to serve the animals which are otherwise left to their own fate.The gaushala management bought a vehicle for transporting the cows to the gaushala from the funds provided by the MP as there was no arrangement for the same.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included former minister Isher Singh Meharban, District Congress Committee president Pawan Dewan, Kaka Grewal, Manjeet Singh Bharowal and other senior party functionaries.