CHANDIGARH: The Chief Minister, Mr. Devi Lal, today trained his guns on the Centre on various issues like supply of modern weapons, SYL and Karnal refinery Projects and also accused the Union Agriculture Minister, Mr. BhaJan Lal of accumulating wealth and demanded that the Income Tax Department should hold an enquiry.
The Chief Minister was replying to the discussion on the motion of thanks to the Address of the Governor in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha. The House later passed the Motion of thanks by voice vote.
While complimenting the Haryana Police for solving all cases of terrorism in the State, he said the borders of Ganganagar (Rajasthan) and Himachal also touched Punjab, but no case of terrorism had taken place in these areas. This had given rise to some suspicions.
The Chief Minister made this remark without elaborating or specifying against whom suspicion existed in his mind. He went on to say that it was up to the Centre to alloy this suspicion.
He said 10 militants involved in various acts were killed in encounters with the Haryana police, while 107 harbourers were arrested. He listed various steps taken by the Government to strengthen the State police network to meet the menace of terrorism and maintain law and order in the state.
DEMAND FOR WEAPONS
He whoever, regretted that the Centre had ‘so far failed to meet the State Government’s demand for modern weapons. The Centre had sent only 16 companies of paramilitary forces as against the demand for 30 companies made by the State Government. The request for self-loading rifles and pistols has so far remained unfulfilled. Demanding probe by the Income Tax Department into the assets of the Union Agriculture Minister, Mr, Devi Lal said such a probe had become necessary because of lavish spending of Rs 2 crore on the marriage of the son of Mr. Bhajan Lal besides, construction of a huge palace at Hisar, costing lakhs of rupees.
The Chief Minister said the marriage party consisted of a cavaleade of S00 cars which had jammed the traffic in Jaipur for more than two hours. One ring used in the marriage was alone estimated at Rs 35 lakh.
Mr. Devi Lal said he was also the Chief Minister and owned a farm. The pay of Mr. Bhajan Lal at the time of Chief Minister was less than him (Devi Lal). Moreover Mr. Bhajan Lal did not belong to any affluent family before he became Chief Minister. He also gave some details of his family.
Sharing the concern over the delay in the completion of the SYL in Punjab territory, Mr. Devi Lal assured the House that his Government would not rest till it was completed. He said he had again written to the Prime Minister on this subject seeking an interview with him on this point.
Referring to the Karnal refinery project he said it looked to be an election stunt of the Prime Minister as he laid the foundation of it before the Haryana Assembly elections and was now dragging his feet on it.
The Chief Minister also took to task the organizers of the so-called Punjabi same lanes, He said the Congress (I) was trying to become the “thekedar” of Haryanvi Punjabis in order to mislead them. He said there were 26 Jat M. L. A. sand 17 Punjabi MLAs now as against 28 and 16 earlier, respectively.
He said he had equal regards for the Punjabis and said that his Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, Principal Secretary Press Secretary and even Director of Public Relations were all Punjabis. He said the defeated party was trying to mislead the Punjabis.
Mr. Devi Lal said the recent increase in control rates and development and water charges had been stayed and a Cabinet Subcommittee was reviewing the whole matter.
Giving details of the concessions given to Government employees. Mr. Devi Lal said the employees could discuss their other demands with the Chief Secretary and appealed to them not to resort to agitation.
Strongly denying that forcible collections were made in the State, the Chief Minister said people were voluntarily contributing to the flood relief fund and his party fund known as the rally fund.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 10, 1989
