Chief Minister Beant Singh’s government which came into power a little over a year ago with only 10% electoral support, He along with his hunch men let loose a reign of terror in Punjab, to secure himself and his ministers the police force has been growing at a tremendous cost to the Punjab ‘Treasury and the people money.
The cost of policing in the state has risen to an abnormally high ‘figure of Rs.70 billion, the massive ‘security cover by the Army, is of course, in addition. The state has also a colossal debt burden of nearly Rs.70 billion discharge to the Center but to cap it all, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha has voted in favor of a resolution seeking 10 form a Legislative Council. Eighty seven all Congress (I) MLAs voted in favor, and 19 members from the BJP, CPI, CPI (M), BSP, Akali Daland Janata Dal opposed it. When the Chief Minister was reminded that a quarter century ago he himself had supported the resolution to do away with the Council, he is reported to have said that this was the need of the hour and the situation and circumstances had undergone a sea change and indeed this resolution was a very progressive one!
That the ruling party should vote to incur such a mindless and avoidable expenditure of many billions with 40 more security cavalcades of additional law makers cluttering the roads and Streets of the state and extending more patronage to their party supporters, is regrettable. A question that arises is how necessary is such a measure for a near bankrupt state which is unable even to sustain its security apparatus and is in dire need for economy on all fronts?
Beant Singh takes the plea that there has been a sea change since the last quarter of a century. And we all see for ourselves that this couldn’t be truer today!
Beant Singh is living up to the words of one Congress leader, who addressing the Congress centenary celebration in Dec.1985 said, “we Congressmen obey no disciples, no mule, follow no principle of public morality, display no concern for the public weal. Corruption is not only tolerated but even regarded as the hallmark of leadership.
The 87 Congress (I) lawmakers in the Punjab State, who have voted for the resolution to create a totally unnecessary additional House, personify arrogance of power.
The Parliament should not waste much of their scarce time and reject it straightaway for it is nothing more than a party measure to sustain some more dead wood Congress(1) rejects al the hosting and the like of the party in another form.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 14, 1993
