Abhay slams Khattar govt for good governance claim

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 21

Leader of the Opposition Abhay Singh Chautala today accused the BJP government of large-scale corruption and ridiculed its claims of transparency. He held Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar personally responsible for irregularities in allotment of mines. He said the Supreme Court judgment exposed Khattar’s claims of transparency and good governance.

Abhya, while addressing mediapersons here today, said the SC had observed that “It is not clear why the petitioner chose to write to the CM but the fact is that it did”, though the proper route was the department, which alone was capable of making recommendations based on rules. “The Supreme Court found itself baffled by the blatant manner in which the mining rights were granted to a company that was not even qualified to participate in the auction,” he said, quoting the judgment.

Abhay accused Panchayats of indulging in large-scale corruption while buying interlocking tiles and benches for schools, ‘chaupals’, pavements, cremation grounds, bus stops and parks. He accused the government of being hand in glove with the manufacturers and suppliers and made the purchases at exorbitant rates. He said tiles that normally cost about Rs 7 were purchased for about Rs 13 to Rs 14. The benches cost about Rs 1,900 to Rs 2,200 per unit and were being purchased for a price ranging between Rs 4,800 and Rs 5,300.

He also lambasted the political and criminal manoeuvring of the government in connection with the dera violence which left 41 people dead. “This vote-bank politics leads the state from one crisis to another ending in deaths and destruction each time,” he said. Abhay said the INLD would soon approach the Lokayukta with a complaint against all cases of corruption found against the Khattar government. He said a state level rally to mark the birth anniversary of former Deputy PM Devi Lal would be held at Bhiwani on September 25.

Law and order has deteriorated: Rai MLA

Sonepat: Rai MLA Jai Tirth Dahiya on Thursday said the law and order situation in Haryana has deteriorated. The Congress legislator met members of a family in Tikola village of the district that lost its elder in armed loot by gangsters on the night intervening September 19 and 20. Ten incidents of crime had been reported in the district during the last three days, he  said, adding that he would raise the issue of deteriorating law and order in the district during the coming Assembly session. OC