Birender Singh owes over Rs 24 lakh to Haryana Assembly: RTI

CHANDIGARH: Union Minister Birender Singh has not cleared the "outstanding" amount of Rs 24.23 lakh of the loans he had taken as an MLA in Haryana, an RTI reply stated.

As per information provided in the reply, Singh was among the 13 former MLAs of the Haryana Assembly, who were yet to clear their "house building advance dues".

Similarly, there were four ex-MLAs including Singh, who have outstanding payment against "motor car advance", as per the RTI reply provided by State Public Information Officer to Hisar-based RTI activist Naresh Kumar.

Kumar who had sought information from the Vidhan Sabha seeking detail of those members who were yet to clear their outstanding payment.

Birender Singh, who had availed "house building advance" to the tune of Rs 25 lakh in two instalments in the year 2007 was yet to repay pending amount of Rs 15.33 lakh.

Similarly, in case of Rs 10 lakh "motor car advance" extended to him in 2009, the Union Minister is yet to repay Rs 8.90 lakh.

Notably, Birender Singh, who is at present Union Rural Development Minister, had switched over to the BJP from the Congress before last year's Haryana assembly polls held in October and had served as State Finance Minister in the erstwhile Congress government between 2005-2009 when he was also the MLA of the party.

In case of house building advance, the RTI reply said that among others who were yet to clear their outstanding payments included former MLAs Raj Rani Poonam (Rs 29.05 lakh), Radhey Shyam (Rs 22.72 lakh) and Arjan Singh (Rs 22.94 lakh).

Haryana Assembly Secretary R K Nandal told reporters here that the amount was outstanding against Birender Singh and other members.

He said that the house building and motor car advance is extended to the members of the state assembly.

Nandal said that when there is delay in repayment, notices are sent in due course.

Meanwhile, Birender Singh was not available for his comments despite repeated attempts to contact him on his phone.