Bhopal May 14 (IANS). Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to reduce fuel consumption and save on other unnecessary expenses and now its nationwide impact is also being seen. In this sequence, Madhya Pradesh Congress unit President Jitu Patwari has demanded from Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to take necessary steps for financial discipline along with ban on government festivals and grand events in the state.
Congress state president Jitu Patwari wrote in a letter to CM Mohan Yadav on Thursday, “These days your government and BJP are teaching the public the lesson of financial discipline, thrift and simplicity.” Amidst inflation, unemployment, rising electricity and water bills, plight of farmers and broken expectations of the youth, the message of the government is that the public should reduce expenditure, exercise restraint and compromise with the circumstances, but the beginning should not start from the pockets of the public but from the glory of power.
Jitu Patwari demanded a one-year ban on government festivals and events, saying that farmers are committing suicide in the state, unemployed youth are frustrated, there is malnutrition in tribal areas, at such a time government festivals worth crores of rupees are like sprinkling salt on the wounds of the people. If the government is sensitive, then it should see the suffering of the people and not the glitter of the platforms. Government programs have now become more political event management than public service. Public money is being spent on big stages, welcome gates, hoardings, helicopters and publicity machinery. Is this the same BJP which once talked about ‘less government, more governance’?
Referring to the facilities provided to MLAs and ministers in the state, Jitu Patwari further wrote in the letter that the salaries, allowances and pensions of MLAs, ministers with status, state and cabinet level ministers should be reconsidered. When the government is asking for sacrifice from the public, then public representatives should also set an example. The government can be seen standing with the people by cutting salaries, allowances and unnecessary facilities for at least one year.
Alleging gathering of crowd at government events, Congress leader Jitu Patwari said that today the administration in Madhya Pradesh seems to be more busy in gathering crowd than working for the public. Government machinery is being used to demonstrate political power. This is not democracy, this is misuse of resources. If government machinery is misused for public gathering and show of strength even at the regional level, then strict action should be taken. Also when schools can run online. If courts can hold virtual hearings, then why thousands of crores worth of tours and rallies for government publicity? The Chief Minister and Ministers should communicate digitally, save the public money collected from the hard-earned money of the indebted people of the state. Along with this, there should be an immediate ban on foreign tours and big delegations.
Congress State President Patwari has urged Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to take concrete steps towards implementing real financial discipline in Madhya Pradesh.
–IANS
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