Chandigarh: The question of who will bear the bills of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s tractor rally held at Badni Kalan in Moga district of Punjab is still being raised even after three years. Amit Dhawan, the owner of Subhash Tent House in Moga, is now caught in the dilemma by arranging tents, catering and stages in this rally. Dues of about Rs 10.30 lakh of this tent house are standing with the government.
He has written a letter stating that following the orders given by the Deputy Commissioner and SSP Moga, he had made arrangements for the Rally at Badni Kalan.
It may be recalled that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had come to Badni Kalan on October 4, 2020, to launch the ‘Kheti Bachao Abhiyan’ in Punjab against the three farm laws of the Central Government during the captain Amarinder Singh regime. A tractor rally was taken out by the Congress on that occasion.
The owners of Subhash Tent House had submitted their bills to the Deputy Commissioner Moga and the Deputy Commissioner had written to the Information and Public Relations Department of Punjab for payment of these bills.
The Congress regime kept away from paying these bills during its tenure. Now the Punjab government has written that the events of Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Badni Kalan do not come under the prescribed conditions, due to which the appeal of tent house bills is rejected. On the other hand, the owner of Subhash Tent House has said that if he is not paid within 30 days, he will approach the court.
The Punjab government has stated that funds for the expenses of the events are released only if the Chief Minister approves the observance of 39 important days declared as state-level events or any other important day, consequently, bills of the tent house were rejected, officials said.