Tribune News Service
Dehradun, May 26
Three months have passed since the new BJP government under Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat came to power in the state, but not a single minister has submitted details of their assets.
Soon after taking over the reins of the state, Rawat had directed his ministers to submit details of their assets by adhering to the code of ethics, similar to the one evoked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The code was released on March 23 and was aimed at bringing in transparency and accountability in the functioning of the government. But, two months have passed, since the directions were issued but none of his ministers have filed the information.
On being asked from Minister of Social Welfare Yashpal Arya, about his inability to file the information, he said, “I have been busy in my constituency and government work. I will file the return at the earliest.”
While bureaucrats who do not adhere to the code of conduct stand the risk of being denied promotions, there is no provision to penalise the ministers who fail to submit these details.
In the past, when former Chief Minister Harish Rawat was heading the Congress government in the state, none of his ministers had filed the information, even though the then Pradesh Congress Committee chief had asked all the ministers including the chief minister to take the initiative.
Similarly, during the reign of the BJP government under former Chief Minister BC Khanduri, very few ministers had taken the initiative.
Most ministers, privately say, the information has already been submitted to the Election Commission during the 2017 Assembly elections, as such there was no need to submit it again.
However, under the code of ethics the ministers have to submit the information every year by August 31. As the new government had taken over on March 18, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had directed his ministers to give these details within two months of the code of ethics for ministers coming into effect on March 23.
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