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| Corrupt still rule roost in J&K, Omar talks past? | | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Dec 20: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah may not have breached the red line but has definitely raised serious questions over purported ranking of Jammu and Kashmir as number 2 corrupt state of the country during the erstwhile PDP-Congress coalition Government.
Whether or not, Omar is justified in making a claim about corruption having come down sharply during the last five years needs to be debated. But since Congress in New Delhi seemingly believes that more than half of the population is pro-Pakistan and have to be won over, so let the rulers and masters do what they want to, we have to ensure that neither are corrupt taken to task nor the ones breaching laws with impunity hanged.
Malice of corruption is deep rooted, some years ago ex-Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. Omar repeated it but did practically nothing to bring the state out of this unfortunate situation. Being head of the Government, Omar knows well where the thieves are, who they are and what is their mode of operation?
Yet he is unmoved as if he has no soul to react and no fortitude to take corrupt head-on. This disquiet in taking appropriate action is unexplainable, when his Chief Secretary is Iqbal Khanday and Principal Secretary B.B. Vyas, two officers known for their uprightness and honesty. Vyas was in J&K when officers hesitated to move out on Srinagar roads even with heavy security cover.
Alongwith some other officers, Khanday has been an inspiration for young IAS officers. Despite making best possible efforts, Civil Secretariat is abuzz with the belief that too much political interference coupled with inability of Chief Minister to take firm stand against corrupt has reduced efficacy of these two bright officers. Belief is that Omar has his task cut out if he does not make a strong political move.
Such is the callousness that posters, which were essentially menu card of transfers in a particular department, recently surfaced on the walls across Jammu city failed to invite reaction from Chief Minister's office. When told, his brute reply has always been "I am not sure about the credibility of these reports." What he did not mention was that state trusts only the reports which are planted in various newspapers with specific aims and ambitions.
He also prefer not to reveal the reports he trusts and which have moved mountains, brought sea change in administrative functioning and changed mode of Government functioning. The sole mantra is 'either be our instrument or we would discredit you'. Even this for all times to come would be propaganda until the day Omar is voted out by the people of the state. There is a belief that Omar knows it well but like his friend in Congress Rahul Gandhi, does not want to offend corrupt and inefficient since they have ensured that he remains in power.
So keep your eyes and ear closed is the mantra that elder Abdullah, the ex-Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah has seemingly given to his Chief Minister son. He seems to have told him that coalition demands compromises but not elaborated that conciliation should not be at such heavy cost.
Omar's sombre silence has allowed the administrative state of affairs to deteriorate to the extent that a forest guard enjoys status equivalent to a Cabinet Minister and has managed to knock out six officers from the office of Director School Education (DSE) Jammu. The 7th officer who has been officiating as DSE is a Secretary level officer but compelled by circumstances to work on the post of Special Secretary. If the reports are to be believed, Sharma prefer reaching office after 4 PM.
They add that Sharma has preferred virtual disconnect from the public and is content with working from private rooms of Civil Secretariat. Omar would not believe and if reports are to be relied upon, he may be next state awardee. Administrative independence is a word most hated these days and begaar is what officers are being forced to do by their political bosses, maintain insiders. They have to do what their political bosses desire even if means crossing threshold of integrity and honesty. |
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