Chandigarh:
In a move of considerable generosity, Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is the deputy chief minister of Punjab, has donated a crore to his alma mater, the Lawrence School Sanawar, an elite co-ed boarding school in the hills near Chandigarh. "Isn't Himachal a part of India?" he quipped as he defended his decision.
The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister said, "I have seen Himachal Chief Minister giving (funds); other Chief Minister's giving to other states. When I went to Ladakh, I gave to a school in Ladakh. This is (the) mental frustration of (the) Congress and actually I don't even feel like replying to these allegations."
Mr Badal, whose father Parkash Singh Badal is the chief minister, says the donation was cleared by the cabinet. The opposition, however, has threatened to take him to court, alleging that this is a misuse of taxpayers' money and the state's development funds.
Lawrence School is located in the Kasauli hills in Himachal Pradesh.
"It is highly deplorable," said Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira, adding that there are plenty of government schools in terrible condition that could use the money instead. "Our party condemns Sukhbir Badal for doling out one crore rupees from Punjab Nirman Fund which is meant for cremation ground, dharmshalas, public toilets. Our schools have no infrastructure. Sanawar school is for rich people."