news details |
|
|
| Governor's rule can,at least,prevent heavy drain on state exchequer | | | Gareeb Dass
Jammu,July 11 :-Over the years public opinon has usually favoured an elected Government to Governor's rule in Jammu and Kashmir.They have usually supported the idea of strengthening all democratic institutions right from the bottom to the top.Whenever Governor's rule is imposed voices are raised against what they call murder of democracy.They are right because all over the world people favour self-rule though many have started supporting those who describe democracy not only the rule of the mob but a clear example of mobocracy.
Now that the Governor's rule has been imposed in Jammu and Kashmir beneficiaries of the ruling coalition or the democratic setup would continue to count plus points of the self-rule.But majority of those who were the least beneficiaries from the PDP-Congress coalition Government have started dishing out various arguments against the bane of elected Government.Whatever may be the arguments in support of the Governor's rule or those against it one thing is quite clear.Under the Governor's rule the heavy burden on the state exchequer can get reduced to a large extent.Those who may doubt it should realise the quantum of burden on the state revenues when the Government has to bear the annual expenses to the tune of over Rs.10 crores on the salaries of ministers and legislators.Another Rs.five to seven crores on the perks of 89 legislators who are entitled to travelling allowances,subsidised telephone facilities,medical allowances etc.
The Government used to spend several crores of rupees on the petrol bill of the Chief Minister and his ministerial colleagues.Imagine the expenses on petrol and maintenance of fleet of cars alloted to the ministers and legislators.Count the expenses incurred by the hospitality and protocol department on organising series of dinners,luncheons and tea parties.Count the expenses on fuel on carring out series of sorties of the Government aircraft and the helicopters.Not only this:there has been no count of the money spent by people,poor indeed,on bribing ministers for getting their cases cleared.One can call it a collosal waste when several crores of rupees used to be spent on running the proceedings of the Assembly.The amount was spent on preparing questions,their replies and on the listless debates and discussions on the floor of the House.These expenses used to be incurred when the Government continued to ignore the commitments and assurances given by the ministers on the Assembly floor.
The legislators and the ministers used to get daily allowance during each sitting of the House for demonstrating their lung power on issues that had no immediate bearing on the lives of people.Money was spent on uproar inside the House.It was spent on inciting legislators to stage demonstrations in the well of the House.What a sad story ?
One may ask. If such is the state of affairs should democracy be replaced by Governor's or President's rule,if not by dictatorship ?Certainly not.The system needs to be changed which is possible if the election rules and procedures are modified and improved to the extent that criminals and illiterate people are not allowed to contest elections.Let genuine academicians and intellectuals occupy the benches in the Assembly and these members should have some limit on inflating their expenses and perks..Once this happend people would enjoy the real taste of democracy.Is it possible ? Oly the future events hold an answer.(eom)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
