JAMMU, Mar 19: Hailing thedecision taken in the very first cabinet meet by the newly formed Punjab Govt., Mr. Harsh Dev Singh Chairman JKNPP and Former Minister called upon the BJP-PDP govt. to take a cue therefrom and introduce financial and administrative reforms so very necessary in a nearly bankrupt state like J&K. He said that it was indeed laudable that Capt. Amrinder Singh had translated several of his election time promises into reality in his very first cabinet meet thereby conveying his intentions of pruning the decayed and corruption plagued system. He said that the Punjab cabinet laid down new benchmarks in the form of ‘code of ethics’ for the Ministers and govt. by taking historical decisions like end of VIP culture, ‘No’ to beacon lights on Ministers’ vehicles, strict laws on conflict of interests of Ministers, disqualification for Ministers found having interest in business houses or upon receipt of valuable gifts, strict adherence to Austerity measures. No to banquets and dinners at govt. expense, introduction of legislation for ending Mafia Raj in sand mining, transport, cable and liquor trade, Non involvement of District administration during the functions and visits of Ministers to District headquarters, annual declaration of assets by all MLAs and bureaucrats, third party audit of all govt. expenditure and ban on foreign travel of Ministers at govt. expense.
Expressing concern over the fast deteriorating administrative and financial set up in the State of J&K, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh called upon the Chief Minister to assert to save the otherwise pauper state from a virtual collapse. He said that while the Ministers’ were exploiting the public exchequer to the fullest and openly using the tax payers’ money for the private operations, the common man was subjected to the most obnoxious and contemptuous treatment. He said that dozens of protests, demonstrations and agitations held on day to day basis amply demonstrated the anger and lack of confidence of the public in the governance. He said that while the govt. agencies and vigilante organizations were being used to victimize and harass the inconvenient officers, the public funds amounting to hundreds of crores were being siphoned by the corrupt officers enjoying govt. patronage in violation of Financial code and in breach of stipulated norms and procedures. He regretted that the Ministers were openly abusing state planes and choppers for private use, holding private tours outside at tax payers’ money besides carrying huge cavalcade of vehicles even during their private visits with none to take cognizance despite repeated reports in the media. He said that while the govt. effected prodigious hike in the pecuniary benefits of its Ministers and MLAs in the form of doubled salaries, unprecedented hike in TA, DA, Housing loans , car loans, sitting fee, CDF besides other perks and facilities including luxury vehicles, the varied sections of the society were totally neglected , deprived and left to agitate in the streets. Making a particular mention of the regular protests and hunger strikes launched by DRWs, ReTs, NHM employees, teachers, contractual lectrurers, Safai karamcharies, Anganwari workers, Asha workers, SSA and RMSA employees, casual and need based workers of Health and Tourism, Mr. Singh said that their outbursts amply symbolized the anger, contempt and revulsion of such sections of the society against the present dispensation and its misrule.
Advising the BJP in particular to learn from Capt. Amrinder’s initiations, Mr. Singh regretted that not a single election time promise of the Saffron party had seen the light of the day nor had any of its slogans found even a mention in the much trumpted Agenda of Alliance. He further called upon the Chief Minister for introducing strict fiscal and administrative reforms so as to save the public exchequer from loot and plunder and the State from impending ruin and disaster.
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