Press Releases Archive

Lok Satta wants PM to intervene and end unhealthy controversies

Lok Satta Party national President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today demanded that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh intervene immediately and put an end to the drift in governance and damage to the country’s credibility in the wake of the controversy over Mr. Robert Vadra-DLF land deals and the allegations against a trust being run by Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid and his wife. The controversies are not in the interest of either the country or the economy, he added.

In a media statement, Dr. JP suggested that the Prime Minister order a credible and independent inquiry into the two issues and put an end to name calling, abuse and invective being indulged in by all the concerned. The Haryana Government should simultaneously institute a credible inquiry into the property deals.

On Mr. Salman Khurshid’s threat to India Against Corruption leader Arvind Kejriwal, Dr. JP said that Ministers should realize they represent the entire country and not their party or themselves. Their utterances should be in tune with the oath they take under which they should function without fear or favor and ill will or prejudice. Instead of reacting in a calm, reassuring, mature and balanced manner, Ministers and spokespersons of the Government are resorting to threats and invective and indulging in harsh and crude language. They are shooting themselves in the foot. Their utterances are not only morally wrong but are also undermining the authority of the Government.

Dr. JP said that all of us including civil society, political parties and media should exercise restraint and ensure that wrong doers are punished after due process of law. Kangaroo courts and snap judgments should give way to a calm, balanced and sober discussion based on evidence and logic. We must de-emphasize individuals and focus on the broader political and governance crisis undermining the country.

Dr. JP said: “In a sensible democracy, a party should be above individuals and the nation above political parties. Sadly now, we have put individuals above political parties and parties above the nation.”

Wednesday, October 17, 2012 - 19:55

Lok Satta condemns transfer of officer probing Robert Vadra land deals

Lok Satta Party national President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today strongly condemned the Haryana Government for transferring senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka who is probing alleged undervaluation of properties dealt with by Mr. Robert Vadra and his companies.

The State Government has eased out an inconvenient officer to obstruct investigation and protect vested interests, Dr. JP said in a media statement.

Dr. JP demanded that the Haryana Government reinstate the officer immediately and publish a white paper on all Government land deals with individuals, organizations and companies. All files and papers relating to the land transfer involving Mr. Vadra and DLF as well as transfer of Mr. Khemka must be made public.

Mr. Ashok Khemka was Director General of Land Consolidation and Land Records-cum-Inspector-General of Registration prior to his transfer. He cancelled the mutation of a piece of land sold by Mr. Vadra and ordered an inquiry into the undervaluation of some of his land deals. Significantly, the transfer order was served on him on the night of October 11 while he ordered the investigation into the land deals on October 8. Mr. Khemka had been in the post of Director General for less than two months.

Dr. JP pointed out that the transfer runs counter to the recommendations of the Administrative Reforms Commission of which he was a member and many other committees in the past. All of them had suggested that officers should have security of tenure of three to five years in a post and not be at the mercy of political bosses. They should be chosen carefully and given appropriate assignments, the ARC had suggested.

The very fact that Mr. Khemka suffered 40 transfers in 20 years testifies to the way Governments function, commented Dr. JP.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012 - 22:09

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