Punjab government in suspended animation: Congress

5 Dariya News

Chandigarh 23-Jan-2013

Punjab Congress today lashed out at the ruling Akali Dal for shifting its total base from Chandigarh to Delhi for the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Managing Committee (DGMC) elections virtually rendering the government dysfunctional and Punjab Civil Secretariat closed.“The government should better have declared official holiday in the Civil Secretariat as that would have saved  harassment to the people who come from across Punjab for various things but have to return disappointed as they can’t find anyone in the office”, Punjab Congress general secretary and Dhuri MLA Arvind Khanna said, while referring to the deserted corridors of power in the Punjab Civil Secretariat and other offices in Chandigarh, while remarking, “the government has virtually been placed under suspended animation”.The Congress general secretary pointed out, not only were the ministers unavailable as they were busy campaigning in Delhi for the DSGMC elections, even most of the senior officers from the police and bureaucracy had been moved along. The entire Durbar has moved to Delhi alongwith all the Durbaris”, he remarked.Khanna said, he did not see any functioning by the government for another month or so as now the Akali ministers and the bureaucracy will get busy in the Moga byelection, hence leaving everything blank. He disclosed that people who visit the secretariat for different purposes have to return disappointed as they cannot find anyone sitting in the office.“While most of the ministers and officers are out in Delhi, those left back are not bothered to visit the offices”, he said, while suggesting that the Punjab government should have declared official holiday in the Civil Secretariat as at least people will not get harassed.Khanna appealed the government to realise its responsibility towards people so that they have not to suffer. “Your job does not end in contesting or winning the elections only, you owe it to the people and you must be sensitive towards their needs also”, he told the government.