People's Democracy

HARYANA

Political Morality Declining Unabated

THE Haryana state unit of the CPI(M) has expressed astonishment whether, with the current speed of legislators and ministers of Haryana being chargesheeted and sent to jail, the next assembly  session would have to be convened inside jail premises. Issued from Rohtak on November 15, a press release of the party after a meeting at the state centre said that six legislators were already in jail and half a dozen more were facing criminal charges.

The party expressed deep concern over the declining standards of political life in Haryana, as evidenced in frequent indulgence of elected representatives and other members nominated on the constitutional bodies, in immoral and criminal acts. The party has demanded immediate sacking of Sukhbir Kataria, the minister of agriculture, youth and sports in the state, following the registration of an FIR against him. It further demanded removal of Harender Pal, a member of the Haryana Public Service Commission, who has been convicted by a court recently.

Commenting over the strike by government employees and Haryana roadways workers, the party has demanded immediate withdrawal of proposal for privatisation of 3,519 routes. The CPI(M) said not only roadways workers were in total opposition to the privatisation of transport services; general public too are opposed to it. As Haryana roadways and its valuable assets belong to the people of Haryana and they cannot allow them to be sold for a song, they are putting up stiff resistance in order to foil the ulterior motive of the government to benefit private capital.