Chandigarh, January 23
The last word on the Panchkula episode is expected on Friday after the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, holds a breakfast meeting with his Chief Secretary, Mr Y.S. Ratra.
Contrary to expectations, the Chief Minister could not meet either Mr Ratra or the Principal Secretary, Industries, Excise and Taxation, Mr Mukul Joshi, separately, on his return from New Delhi this afternoon. According to the revised schedule, he was to meet Mr Joshi at 6 p.m. after meeting his Chief Secretary at 4 p.m. The Chief Minister did clear some files on his return from Delhi, but deferred meetings on the Panchkula episode till tomorrow morning.
Besides flooding the office of the AICC President with clips of newspapers containing detailed reports about the episode, a section of party leaders and workers have warned the party high command of serious “consequences” in case no action was initiated immediately. Others have been supportive of the Chief Minister’s stand so far on the issue.
The “conscientious section of the party” feels that it may be a mere coincidence that this “sordid episode” has taken place after the elections have been announced in the neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and any delay would send a wrong signal to the electorate there. Most of the Punjab ministers have already been assigned election duties in the hilly state.
Though the Haryana police has reportedly supplied attested copies of the DDR to both Punjab and Haryana Chief Ministers, yet the number of intriguing questions remaining unanswered has increased.
Sources close to the Chief Secretary maintain that “certain facts would be revealed to the Chief Minister to demand action against the erring IAS officer”, claiming the “episode to be part of a conspiracy”.
They have also raised accusing fingers at certain officials of the Haryana police for their “role” in the whole episode maintaining that the Chief Secretary could not talk to his wife in the police station despite of the fact that the police officer had promised to make her speak to Mr Ratra over the mobile phone, alleging further that she was “probably tricked in”.
On the other hand, a joint written statement by the Deputy Chairman of State Planning Board, Mr R.R. Bhardwaj, Parliamentary Secretary, Mr G.S. Atwal, and MLA Tarlochan Singh, has not only decried the action of those trying to “politicise the issue”, but have also come to the defence of Mr Joshi whose name figures in the episode.
“The conduct of an officer, whether senior or junior, is governed by the Conduct Rules and Service Rules. It is not proper to politicise it because this can vitiate the process of law. It is unfair since the officer cannot go public to defend himself.
“A solitary instance of misconduct, even if it is proved to be ultimately true, cannot be the criterion to judge the performance of the government. No government, particularly the Chief Minister, can ensure that no government employee is involved in any misconduct, if at all.
The government can only ensure that such instances are dealt with as per the law and that, too, promptly to instil confidence about its credibility among the people. On the contrary, certain vested interests, particularly the Akalis, are trying to hold the Punjab Government guilty and responsible for the happening. This is sheer political opportunism and playing cheap politics which needs to be condemned by all well-meaning persons,” the statement said.
