Arrange meal for invitees travelling on buses to swearing-in, DCs told
In what has ruffled the feathers of opposition leaders in the state, the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of all districts have been tasked with the job of ensuring that food packets are provided to all invitees travelling in buses to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the Haryana Cabinet in Panchkula tomorrow.
The “most urgent” communication sent by the Under Secretary office on behalf of the Chief Secretary states, “I am directed to inform you that a large number of buses have been arranged to carry invitees from all 22 districts to the venue to attend the swearing-in ceremony. It is decided that food packets (45 in number) be arranged and distributed to the invitees by the DCs concerned in each bus.”
Gross misuse of public money
It is gross misuse of official machinery and taxpayers’ money.... The money used on this function could have been used to address civic problems faced by residents in every city of the state. —Neeraj Sharma, Former congress MLA
The letter dated October 14 says that the distribution of food packets and other items in each bus shall be ensured by the respective Deputy Commissioners. “Treat it as most urgent,” it said. The packets will include puris, aloo jeera, laddoos, Fruity, rice, white chanas, a water bottle, pickle, a spoon and a paper napkin.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from some opposition leaders. Describing it as gross misuse of the official machinery, Neeraj Sharma, a former Congress MLA from the NIT Assembly segment, said taxpayers’ money was being misused to arrange “attendance” with the help of the district authorities.
Alleging the government came to power through deception, Sharma said, “It had not been elected by people, but by the EVMs. If it had been elected by people, it would not have to pressure district officials to mobilise buses and offer free food,” he said, adding that, “The money used on this function could have been utilised to address civic problems faced by residents in every city of the state.”
Yogesh Sharma, a former MLA from the Ballabhgarh segment, said directing the district administration to procure buses and food for invitees for a political function was not only unconstitutional but also a blot on democratic norms.
The BJP government had unveiled its real face, remarked Karan Singh Dalal, a former minister and ex-MLA from Palwal. “It has no fear of any agency or law in matters of misusing the government machinery and public funds for its own publicity,” he added.
