Is there a critical administrative
need for a Deputy Chief Minister?
Ludhiana, July 04,2009
Qila Raipur MLA Jassi Khangura today asked the Akali led government
to clarify its true intentions regarding the post of the Deputy
Chief Minister.
He queried “notwithstanding that there is no constitutional
provision for this post, why was there no need for the first 2
years of the government and why there was a sudden need to appoint
Sukhbir Badal this January?
He added that if there was a critical need then, surely there
is one now, especially as the economy has tanked, the power crisis
the worst in history and the government reeling and failing on
almost every front.
Khangura stated “If the requirement persists then the government
should appoint a Deputy Chief Minister now to take over the duties
performed until recently by Sukhbir Badal” before adding
that “this post should be offered to the BJP” to ensure
appropriate distribution of powers and checks on the abuses committed
by the Akalis.”
As the state currently has no Deputy Chief Minister, Khangura
suggested “this government should appoint one forthwith
with a commitment that this post would then not be changed till
the end of the term of this government.”
Khangura then added “Either fill the vacant post now or
abolish it. In the absence of either action the public will safely
assume that this post is merely a tool of the Badal family to
concentrate more power into their murky hands and to continue
to bludgeon their alliance partners whose meek protests fool nobody
for there is no underlying intent, just superficial posturing.”
Khangura also questioned the need for Sukhbir to announce his
resignation much before the end of the 6 month provision, stating
“Why could Sukhbir not have gone to the Vidhan Sabha to
explain to all the members the precise reasons for his resignation”
before adding that “this would have allowed the opposition
members an opportunity to cross examine Sukhbir on this important
issue.”
On the timing of the resignation Khangura stressed “Is
it not the case that Sukhbir knows that he is in a constitutional
fix, his actions since his coronation illegal and his intentions
insincere. Why is he running scared from the house and the public
in this issue?”
On the on-off love affair with the Akali party Khangura suggested
to the BJP “either take your grievances and demands, including
the demand for the post of the Deputy Chief Minister, to their
logical conclusion by extracting some tangible concession from
your untrustworthy partners, or withdraw your support. Not to
do so would lead the BJP workers to assume that the BJP’s
support to the Akalis is merely for the benefit of the BJP ministers
who hold plum and creamy posts, whilst the BJP workers continue
to time and again suffer merciless bruising from the goons employed
by the Akalis.”
Khangura
seeks review of all Sukhbir decisions as Dy CM, HM
Ludhiana, July 03,2009
Punjab Congress MLA Jassi Khangura today sought the review of
all the decisions taken by Sukhbir Badal as the Deputy Chief Minister
and Home Minister of the state. He pointed out, after his resignation
from the post of the Deputy Chief Minister all his decisions stand
ultra vires to the law and the constitution as he failed to validate
his position by getting elected to the legislature. Khangura suggested
that “this is the very type of loop-hole that allows unelected
persons to undermine the proceedings of the house and the functioning
of the government. The current UPA government should seek to legislate
to ensure that this never happens again. Unelected persons must
never again be allowed to dominate a government nor to be part
of the legislative process.”
The Qila Raipur MLA observed, Sukhbir Badal had no moral right
to become the Deputy Chief Minister. He should first have got
elected to the assembly and then aspired to become the Deputy
Chief Minister.
“This resignation must also serve as a lesson to the house
of Badals that neither they should foist leaders on the people
from the top nor try to get them in through the backdoor”,
he remarked, while adding, that in the first instance the CM had
no moral authority to promote his son as the Deputy Chief Minister
of Punjab as he had no mandate to do so and that there was no
public interest served by this promotion.
This resignation Khangura added “is one of the very rare
instances that Sukhbir has chosen to respect the law of the land”
adding that “so deluded is he by the trappings of power
that he believes himself invincible and immune from prosecution.
The people of Punjab will give him a just reply in the next Vidhan
Sabha general elections.”
Khangura added that Sukhbir Badal had done nothing of note during
his tenure other than terrorise the masses and intimidate Congress
leaders and workers. Khangura queried as to how many days Sukhbir
actually attended office and how many policy initiatives he launched.
He further stated “Sukhbir’s first session in the
house was noted for one thing: the sycophantic behaviour of his
fellow Akali MLAs and the dismissive attitude of Sukhbir to all,
particularly the senior Akali leaders, not least the now sadly
deceased Capt. Kanwaljit Singh”.
On the record of Sukhbir Badal as Minister for NRI Affairs for
the last few months, Khangura stressed that “there has been
absolutely no review of NRI issues. Sukhbir is not interested
in helping them as most NRIs do not have a vote in India. Rather
than help NRIs Sukhbir has ensured that thousands of crores of
NRIs assets have been looted, confiscated and grabbed with impunity.”
He added that “this is why Sukhbir dare not visit Canada
because he knows what type of reception awaits him in that country.”
Khangura closed by stating that Sukhbir’s resignation may
not make much difference in the state’s administration since
his style of functioning will remain the same and his extra-constitutional
interference will continue. “Prior to being administered
the oath of the office (of the Deputy Chief Minister) he was already
acting like a super CM and now also he will continue in the same
way”, he remarked.
Khangura demanded that the colossal sums of money wasted by the
Punjab Government on this futile exercise, including the gargantuan
Rs5crores squandered on electricity and entertainment during Sukbir’s
coronation in Amritsar, be refunded by the Badal family to the
state exchequer.
