Govt. To Strive for Clean Administration

Birendra Singh

From Our Staff Reporter

Chandigarh, March 24 

Mr Birendra Singh, the new Chief Minister of Haryana, said in a broadcast from the Jullundur station of All India Radio this evening this his government would "try to measure up to the expectations which the people of the State repose in us" and justify their faith in them.

The Government would keep the question of economy in the forefront and while striving for a clean and efficient administration would do its best to eradicate corruption, he said. The new set-up he added, symbolised the desire for change from the old and state methods which had been in vogue hither to for attaining political power and for retaining it.

The following is the text of the broadcast:

The Haryana Samyukta Dal has been called upon to form a new Government in Haryana.  It has accepted this responsibility and has thought fit to choose me as its leader and chief Minister.  We have assumed office today.  We shall try to measure up to the expectations which the people of the State repose in us.  We have a heavy task before us and I fully appreciate the problems which we have to tackle.  With the goodwill of my colleagues and the people of Haryana I hope to justify the faith expressed in us.

As you know, the Haryana Samyukta Dal represents a cross section of opinion and, in a way, this gives a truer picture of the feeling sand aspirations of the people in general.  We have evolved a common programme and it will be our duty and privilege to implement it to the best of our ability.  Our ministry can be said to be truly representative of different shades and opinions.  Our party and I feel  that in a democratic  set-up, proper account has to be taken of this factor.  No less than four members of my Cabinet have straightway foregone their salaries.  This will be some relief to our State Exchequer.  Otherwise also, we shall endeavour to keep the all-important question of economy in the forefront.

The seven-point programme evolved by the Dal by way a common guideline is:

• A clean and efficient administration

• Eradication of corruption

• Tax relief to poor and middle sections of society

• Bringing down of the prices of food grains and essential commodities

• Uplift of Harijans and backward classes

• Maximum economy in administration; and

• Industrial and agricultural development with intensive rural electrification and extension of irrigation to arid areas.

• I fully realise that the real test of our professions would lie in the implementation of this programme.  These problems, in fact, are in no way new; our State and the society have been confronted with them for a considerable time past.  However, we are confident that if all of us put in sincere and united efforts, we shall achieve success in our mission.

Desire for change

Our set-up symbolises the desire for change from the old and stale methods which have been in vogue hitherto for attaining political power and retaining it.  The simple and honest masses are anxious to get rid of a worn-out and lifeless system which aims at hoodwinking them with pious platitudes and empty slogans.  The talk about national integration during the past 20 years of freedom has brought forth no tangible results.