People's Democracy

HARYANA

 

Dismiss Minister Guilty of Supporting Culprits

 

THE Haryana state unit of the CPI(M) has taken strong exception to the public utterances of a  cabinet minister, Ms Geeta Bhukkal, describing choice marriages against Haryana’s culture. She made some highly regressive remarks in the media on Tuesday, April 23, at Pabnawa village in Kaithal district.

 

Ms Geeta Bhukkal, who holds the charge of education, social justice, SC-BC welfare, and women and child development, had the temerity to publicly condemn the inter-caste marriage over which some dominant caste elements recently perpetrated violent reprisals against dalit families at Pabnawa in Kaithal district last week.

 

In a press statement issued on April 25, CPI(M) state secretary Inderjit Singh has criticised the utterances of the minister, saying that her utterances were an act of outright defiance of the same constitution which she took the oath of office as a minister and which she is duty bound to defend. The CPI(M) leader said her conduct is bound to further embolden the culprits who still continue to threaten the dalit families at Pabnawa.

 

The party has urged the governor to take cognisance of the unbecoming conduct of the minister, Ms Geeta Bhukkal, whom he had administered the oath for defending the constitution, and take suitable action against her. She cannot be allowed to conveniently abdicate her constitutional obligation and play populist politics with impunity.

 

Meanwhile, on the same day, several social organisations took out an angry protest march at Kaithal against the atrocities committed against Pabnawa dalits. Followers of the Khet Mazdoor Union, Jan Sangharsh Manch, Samatamoolak Mahila Sangathan, Janwadi Mahila Samiti, Democratic Youth Federation of India, Sambhav, National Confederation of Dalit Organisations, Bamsaf, Students Federation of India and others submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner, demanding an end to caste atrocities in the district. The protesting organisations also condemned the cabinet minister Ms Geeta Bhukkal’s statements denouncing an inter-caste marriage at Pabnawa village.