No free pilgrimage

DESTINATIONS were holy; however, the intent was not so holy and was steeped in vote-bank politics. Visiting places of religious significance has long been a part of Indian experience with individuals, families and groups marshalling resources to make a pilgrimage; there was no dependence on any largesse from a government. It became a political sop in Punjab as Parkash Singh Badal, who headed the previous government, launched the Mukh Mantri Tirath Darshan Yatra scheme. Through this, individuals from Punjab were taken for pilgrimage to destinations like Chintpurni, Himachal Pradesh; Salasar, Rajasthan; Mata Vaishnodevi, Jammu and Kashmir;  Patna Sahib, Bihar; Nanded Sahib, Maharashtra; Varanasi, UP; and Ajmer Sharif, Rajasthan. Punjab was also not ignored, Anandpur Sahib and Amritsar too figured on the list. 

Characteristically, there was no explanation about why there was a pressing need for the state to step into an essentially personal experience; nor was there any criterion on how this bounty was to be distributed. There were allegations that political affiliation played a role in the selection of beneficiaries, and in any case, it is unclear what, if any, gain came the way of the state that spent Rs 139 crore on the endeavour. The scheme went into hibernation after the imposition of the moral code of conduct prior to the Punjab Assembly elections, and now, it has been formally closed. 

In an otherwise sop-laden atmosphere, the decision of Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal stands out. Even as he gave in to the demands of realpolitik while framing the Budget, he did dare to stop this populist measure. Perhaps he will also find a way to pay Rs 1.75 crore due to the cash-strapped Pepsu Road Transport Corporation on account of this scheme. Sops offer diminishing returns; good governance has a lasting impact on people and on politics. The present government will do well to remember that a large number of populist measures failed to translate into votes for the previous government. Performance is what really counts in the long run.