Haryana politics at its worst: ex-CM’s response

THIS refers to your front page signed editorial, “Haryana politics at its worst” (July 22).

The comment on the black chapter of Aya Rams and Gaya Rams started by Mr Bhajan Lal & Co is worth appreciating. Since I am a victim of this immoral defection game, I know what it means — the polity of the state. But I wonder the way you have concluded by saying that I have learnt a few tricks of the survival game and successfully manipulated the strings of power to keep myself afloat. Had it been so I would have bargained with the BJP and the Congress to keep myself in power. My principles and the interests of the state are of foremost significance for me, and I will not sacrifice these whether I remain in power or not.

I appreciate that at least you have lauded the actions of those politicians who have listened to their conscience. There is need to check the menace of Aya Rams and Gaya Rams because the law is proving ineffective.

I appreciate your otherwise left-handed compliments that I have been a model ruler and a builder of Haryana. How have you reached the conclusion about my latest stint as Chief Minister has been sans any achievements? Any seasoned journalist of your standing would know that despite a hazy political situation, I strived hard once again to bring Haryana to the path of development. You would also be knowing what I inherited when I took over as Chief Minister in May, 1996. Some facts, and these are the real facts, you could cross-check from the files and the situation at the ground level.

The power generation capacity has been enhanced by 213 MW and 34 new sub-stations have been set up with 190 sub-stations augmented, besides the laying of 5000-km-long new transmission lines. As much as 515 lakh units of power was supplied to consumers on July 12, 1999, against 409 lakh units on July 16, 1995, during Mr Bhajan Lal’s tenure. It was only 315 lakh units on September 25, 1990, during the regime of the Lok Dal. There will be an increase of 40 lakh units per day by September, 1999.

Haryana was worst affected by floods in 1995. To remove this occurrence, I got canals and drains desilted, and their embankments strengthened to ensure water availability at tail-ends. With the result, six lakh acres of more land was brought under cultivation.

In the Ahirwal area, to improve irrigation facilities, the Rewari Lift Irrigation Scheme is under execution. The foundation stone of the Hathini Kund barrage was laid on September 6, 1994, but the then government did nothing during one and a half years for the construction of this barrage. I got it completed in a record time — two years and three months — at a cost of about Rs 200 crore.

All the projects whose foundation stones were laid by me and by my predecessor have been completed or are in an advanced stage of completion. These include a new secretariat building at Chandigarh, mini secretariats at Panchkula, Kaithal, Rewari, Yamunanagar, Jhajjar, Fatehabad and Karnal, and the judicial complexes at Karnal, Panchkula and Yamunanagar. Polytechnic buildings at Damla, Khanpur, Faridabad, Uttawad, Rohtak and Sonepat, and hospital buildings at several places have been completed.

As many as 781 schools have been upgraded and new colleges opened. Eight government-aided colleges have been taken over by the state. Most of these colleges are in the Ahirwal belt.

A scheme of Rs 2,278 crore has been formulated to remove water-logging in many districts of Haryana so as to bring the water-logged area under cultivation.

You have suggested with a tinge of irony that I should take sanyas from active politics. I have been wondering at your remarks, indeed. Should I take sanyas to leave the field free for the manipulators of the politics of Aya Rams and Gaya Rams like Mr Bhajan Lal and Mr Chautala, who would wish this to happen? I will not oblige those who want to exploit the people and are eagerly waiting for my sanyas. It is a matter of great pity that though you have conceded my immense contribution to the cause of development of Haryana, you want me to say goodbye to active politics.

I also do not understand how you have dubbed me a dictator. Is it not a fact that I have strived hard and contested several elections in a fair manner, have lived through honest means and done my best to serve the people of Haryana? Is this dictatorship? I do not have a tongue laced with honey, as I do not believe in flattery. In these days of fast dwindling moral values, it is not easy to take work from the government machinery, unless one is firm and tough. But there is a difference between a firm ruler and a dictator. One has to be a hard task-master to ensure good results.

If I can put in 18 hours of work everyday surely I have a right to seek some contribution from others also. Please cross-check with the officers who have worked with me since 1968. It is my hard work and sheer commitment that have kept me going in today’s murky politics, and not public relations only.

BANSI LAL,
Former Chief Minister and
President, Haryana Vikas Party,
Rohtak

* * * *

Generator sets & PSEB

Keeping in view the news items “PSEB warns generator users” and “Direction on power generator sets” published in The Tribune some time ago, I feel the Chief Minister of Punjab should intervene to safeguard the interests of the working class, small-scale industries, and small traders. Otherwise this policy of the PSEB will ruin the economy of the state.

The PSEB authorities are not only disturbing the people earning their bread on a daily basis but also forcing their families to go to bed with empty stomach. The municipal authorities are already getting a licence fee on generators. When the generator owners are not making any mess, then why is the PSEB breaking their necks? Here I would request the generator owners to keep the machine in good condition to minimise sound and air pollution.

The PSEB has already crossed the limits by charging octroi on electricity, excise duty, service line rent, meter rent, surcharge, etc. The interest on security as well as on the advance consumption deposit (ACD) is not given automatically to everybody. Moreover, more than one meter is not allowed in a house without the approval of the municipal authorities. The mixing up of the affairs of the Municipal Committee with the PSEB affairs is not tolerable.

THAKAR SINGH KANWAL
Nabha