Sidhu sets up parallel bureau in ministry
Friday, 27/10/2017
http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=182454&boxid=59305&uid=&dat=2017-10-27
Chandigarh : A parallel bureau is functioning in the Local Bodies Department as sources have revealed that this office reportedly checks each and every file sent by the government to the department and decides on its own and the files are signed by senior officers of the department as an official formality only.
Amar Singh, adviser to Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, runs this office, for which he has also given a separate and elegant office in the Municipal building, in Chandigarh. Only after being reduced to being mere puppets, senior officers are getting transfers from this department.
On October 17, when cheques were to be distributed by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, Local Bodies Minister’s Advisor Amar Singh was the subject of discussion. Two chairs were unofficially reserved around the chair of CM; one was for Minister Sidhu and other for his advisor Amar Singh.
Minister Sadhu Singh Dharmsot also attended the function. Though Amar Singh wanted to vacate his chair for the minister, Sidhu indicated to him not to leave his chair. For some time, Dharmsot had to wait for a chair. After the intervention by senior officials in CMO, Amar Singh had to leave his chair, but he was given a chair adjacent to Minister Dharmsot, second after the CM.
After the change of guard in the state, the Local Bodies Department has been mirred in controversies. In the department, Additional Chief Secretary Satish Chandra was replaced by D P Reddy during the initial days of the government. But soon, D P Reddy was replaced by Satish Chandra. Satish Chandra was the choice of Sidhu. But sources say that the interference of the minister’s advisor Amar Singh has made the job tougher for officers. Amar Singh is a retired bureaucrat and lost in the 2017 Punjab assembly election from Raikot of Ludhiana. Known to be close to Sidhu, when Sidhu was in BJP, action had been taken against engineers of local bodies on the hidden behest of some BJP leaders.
Sources said that Additional Chief Secretary Satish Chandra had opposed this action. But the engineers got stay from High Court, the position of the minister was undermined. However, a rift had been created between the minister’s advisor and Satish Chandra.
Sources disclosed that Sidhu had to approach CM for the transfer of Satish Chandra. Sources also revealed that Satish Chandra himself approached for his transfer from Local Bodies Department to any other department. Director of the department KK Yadav is also on vacation for a few days and Additional Director Hargunjit Kaur was on leave for last several days. Two days earlier, she was transferred from the local bodies department. Sources also stated that she too was trying for her transfer.
Interestingly, depicting himself to be honest, Navjot Siingh Sidhu has given a free hand to his advisor for taking action against any Congressmen if their names figure in corruption allegations. Despite the orders, the advisor allegedly has suppressed the corruption case of a Congress leader who is involved in the embezzlement of community centre of Morinda.
According to information, no official is ready to join the Local Bodies Department on his or her own will. But bound to rules, no one is ready to speak out publically.
According to internal sources of the department, the minister goes to sign the files only after checking by advisor Amar Singh. After all decisions, senior officers have been asked to sign as official formality. Sources stated that what to do and which action has been taken against anybody, this all is decided by Amar Singh. Such a policy has also created rift between Minister and Chief Secretary. As a version, office of Sidhu clears it that transfers and opinion are the prerogative of government.
Sidhu’s struggle creates factionalism
Chandigarh: Presenting yet another challenge before the chief minister, Navjot Singh Sidhu announced a movement against Akalis from Amritsar, without consulting the CM. Raising the issue of more departments for him, Sidhu expressed that the CM does not agree with him. Earlier, Sidhu was asked not to ruffle feathers by the CMO. It was said in political circles that Sidhu was a like spring toy, which cannot sit idly. The Chief Minister himself has already given the suggestion to his ministers no to pursue vendetta politics. But now the announcement of movement by Sidhu has created situation of factionalism in the ruling party. Despite his best efforts, only four MLAs attended Sidhu’s protest in Amritsar district, while many senior Congress leaders skipped the ‘ridiculous’ protest.
