Press Note Date : 31/08/2010 ENG

OFFICE OF THE LEADER OF OPPOSITION
Gujarat Vidhansabha, Gandhinagar.

Press Note 31st August, 2010
Congress Legislature Party in its meeting lashed out against the autocratic style of functioning of Chief Minister. It demanded that government should adhere to the standards of parliamentary democracy rather than acting as a platform to express fads and whims of an individual.
The meeting began with a prayer for good health and fast recovery of the Speaker Ashok Bhatt. He is in hospital in critical condition.
The meeting adopted five resolutions covering different aspects of governance in Gujarat right from deteriorating law and order situation to the blatant flouting of parliamentary norm of inviting local representatives in government functions irrespective of party affiliation of the representative.
Referring to the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, the resolution pointed to the exposure of extortion racket which has landed Minister of State for Home in Sabarmati jail. It said people were not safe. Police, the protector, was playing tormentor.
A dalit who tried to raise the issues of dalits was badly injured by BJP leaders at Vadodara. An activist opposed mining racket of people close to Chief Minister. He had to pay price. He was shot dead just outside the Gujarat High Court. The CLP demanded that Chief Minister should restore law and order situation in the state.
BJP is flouting parliamentary democracy norms, a resolution said, the monsoon session is just for two days. One of these days will be for condolences and so for the business there would be just one day. There should be a regular session, it demanded.
The meeting took a serious exception to Chief Minister turning government functions into party platform. A resolution condemning this said that instead of launching political tirade, Chief Minister should talk about the government, its works and achievements. It strongly condemned the practice which was nothing but playing politics at public money.
Talking about Garib Kalyan Melas, the meeting dubbed it as a great farce and insult of poor. People are made to beg for what they should get at their door step. Everything is being done in such a manner that it gives the impression of Chief Minister doling out from his pocket. Beneficiaries are made to wait for long, they have to listen long political speeches, just to get what they should get by their right.
The fifth resolution severely criticized the administration for ignoring elected representatives in government functions. Congress representatives are not invited, their names do not figure in invitations. On the other hand, even office bearers of BJP are given prominent position on the dias. This is in complete violation of government’s own circulars regarding who should be invited. Even the Speaker has made it clear that all elected representatives should be invited irrespective of the party affiliation.
The meeting was chaired by Leader of Opposition, Shaktisinh Gohil in the special presence of PCC Chief Siddhartha Patel.
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