Continuing in alliance with SAD for political convinience only
By Satinder Bains
CHANDIGARH: Punjab BJP an alliance partner with SAD in Punjab Government has disappointed the people of Punjab who were expecting from the saffrom party to oppose the anti-people policies of SAD and take a stand on vital issues like imposing high taxes including property tax, rampat corruption, poor law and order, sand mafia, drug menace and appeasement of pro-Khalistan elements.Punjab is indeed a worst example of governance in which BJP is bigger culprit than SAD.
The SAD and BJP allinace government is ruling the state for about eight years now. While SAD has forced all its decisions in the cabinet meetings, the BJP had no courage to take a decisiove stand on any of controversial decisions of cabinet headed by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. During the last term of SAD-BJP government (2007-2012), the BJP high command had changed four of its ministers on corruption charges and poor performance. The respective party presidents Ashwani Sharma and Kamal Sharma during these eight years had not only fell prey to trap of SAD, they have also misled the national leadership and betrayed the people of Punjab and in particular the BJP cadre.
The BJP leaders had adopted half hearted approach on all the issues and allowed its ruling partner to lead the state to a state of anarchy. Recently when SAD decided to shift all Sikh militants lodged in jails in other states, BJP failed to oppose the move with authority. BJP president Kamal Sharma had said that SAD had not consulted them on the issue. Sharma gave the same statement number of times when the cabinet had levied five percent extra entry tax on sugar, enahnced the VAT on diesel and petrol and imposed exorbitant rates for regularisation of plots in illegal colonies and property tax. If SAD had not consulted BJP on such vital issues, then with which authority four BJP ministers attent the cabinet meetings.
When the people of state were reeling under deteriorated law and order problem BJP failed to take a determined stand to protect the hnour and dignity of citizens. BJP had never spoken against activities of sand and drug mafia. At one point of time, when BJP national president Amit Shah had announced to launch anti-drug campaign and hold a rally at Amritsar, the people of state had seen a ray of hope which proved a hoax. BJP which is holding verry important portfolios of Health, Local Bodies and Industry have nothing to showcase on front of performance. The health system has almost vanished at primary level and large population of state is forced to live without medical services. The civic amenities in cities are poor and hopeless. The industry is migrating out of state and the so called industrial policy has not been implemented as yet. The BJP ministers have been trying to pass the buck with excuses that SAD is not cooperating and Deputy Chief Minister is interfering in their departments. Then for what BJP ministers are continuing in the government ?
BJP had failed to take stand on construction of memorial of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawala inside the Golden Temple complex and couldn't push for the suitable memorial for the thounsands of Hindus killed during militancy in Punjab.
BJP had taken stand to stop free power to farmers which was strenly rejected by Badal. The Chief Minister had rather made a public statement a few weeks earlier that BJP was taken into confidence before taking all the decisions. BJP had no justification of its silence on the important issues continuing in power for politrical convinience. BJP had balance of pwoer in its hands untill SAD won the Dhuri bye-election to gain full majority. When BJP's support is not required to run the government, SAD is now under no obligation to even consult BJP on any issues. BJP had perhaps lost a ready opportunity to expand its base in Punjab.