A day after the Budget Session of the Assembly ended sine die due to persistent pandemonium in the House, JVM chief Babulal Marandi has rapped the Government for the decision calling it misuse of majority.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, the former Chief Minister also expressed fear that the step would lead towards an authoritarian regime. “In a democratic system like ours, calling House is the prerogative of the Government. It is also responsible for conducting the House. But the way the Assembly passed the Budget without discussion and then the decision to end it prematurely has been taken, it is not a healthy sign for a democracy,” said Marandi.
The 15-day-long Budget Session of the Assembly had to be concluded just after eight days and that also without having any considerable work or discussion. Out of 958 questions brought in by the Members, only two short notice questions could be asked amid din from the party like the JMM and the JVM.
Marandi went on lambasting the Government and Chief Minister Raghubar Das in particular for running amok under the garb of majority. “To my mind ending the House before it was due is a clear misuse of majority and a step heading to dictatorship. This would weaken the legislative processes. It is even worrying to see all this happening just to shield some tainted officials,” said the JVM supremo.
The Session got washed out since the Opposition kept demanding removal of Chief Secretary Rajbala Verma, DGP DK Pandey and ADG Anurag Gupta by leveling allegations of various natures against them. Moreover, the Government clarified its stand citing explanations asked and probe ordered from the said bureaucrats.
“It seems the Government can go up to any extent to save its pet officials from prosecution. Had the House run, misdeeds of these officials would have come out in open. There are several burning issues before the State and people would teach a lesson to the BJP in the next election,” said Marandi.
He also went on placing demands before the Government for amending defined domicile policy by it and reserving all the vacancies for residents of the State for 20 years duration. The JVM is also of the view that people having their names in the last survey settlement only should be treated as permanent resident of Jharkhand and sought cancelation of appointments done by the JPSC and JSSC by “violating reservation rules.”