Ministers skip Janta Durbars, Bhatt blames it on bypoll

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 27

Several weeks have passed since the last Janta Durbar was held at the BJP office here. With ministers showing a lack of interest in listening to the woes of the general public, the public too seem to have realised that it is futile to wait for them at the office. Hence the people too have started keeping off.

While BJP leaders say the ministers are preoccupied with other important activities, the Opposition Congress is raising questions at the commitment of the BJP government.

Janta Durbars were conceputalised by the BJP to ensure that the complaints of the party workers and the general public were heard at the state BJP office but for the last several weeks not even a single Janta Durbar has been held. Even in the Vidhan Sabha the ministers seem to be skipping the meetings. 

Chief Minister TS Rawat had directed his Cabinet colleagues to fix days for hearing the complaints of the general public even at the Vidhan Sabha.

Actually, the disinterest started after the suicide attempt by Transporter Prakash Pandey at the BJP office during the Janta Durbar held by Uttarakhand Minister for Agriculture and Horticulture Subodh Uniyal.

On being asked why the ministers were keeping away from the Janta Durbars, Uttarakhand BJP chief Ajay Bhatt said, “Most of the ministers are busy with campaigning in Tharali. As soon as we are done with the elections, these would take place as scheduled,” said Bhatt.

The opposition Congress had termed the whole exercise as a waste of time and a mere publicity stunt. Now with these not being held altogether the party has sharpened its attack. “As the ministers are busy in some other activities they do not have time for attending to the problems of the people,” said Indira Hridayesh Leader of the Opposition.