Dissent out in open, CM’s meet with MLAs cancelled

CONG LEADERSHIP REPORTEDLY CANCELLED KHATTAR’S APRIL 3 MEET IN DELHI, APPARENTLY TO AVOID AN UGLY SITUATION IN THE WAKE OF INCREASING INTERNAL BICKERING

CHANDIGARH: Dissidence among the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs forced party leadership to cancel the legislature party meeting that was scheduled to be held in New Delhi on April 3.

Though all MLAs were informed about the meeting on Friday, party leadership reportedly cancelled it later in the night, apparently to avoid an ugly situation in the wake of increasing internal bickering. While most MLAs Hindustan Times talked to said they were not aware of cancellation of the said meeting, media advisor to chief minister, Amit Arya, said that the meeting had been postponed.

Of the total 47 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs, at least 16 have been dissidenting for the past three months, demanding their say in the government and its accountability unto their various demands.

Miffed over what they termed as “indifferent treatment’’ meted out to them by bureaucrats, especially the chief minister’s office (CMO) and top party leaders , MLAs have been expressing their grouse before Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar as well.

One of the more vocal MLAs, Umesh Agrwal, had demanded an inquiry into the alleged land scam of Gwal Pahari area in Gurugram in the budget session last month.

Though several MLAs feigned ignorance about the reason behind cancellation of the meeting, about half a dozen said since there was nothing on the surface as regarding their demands, there seemed to be “no point in holding the said meeting”, hence its cancellation by Khattar.

‘NO PERSONAL

PROBLEM WITH CM’

An MLA from south Haryana, who did not want to be named, said it was wrong to say that 16 MLAs were annoyed with Khattar.

“We all have been demanding a check on corruption in political as well as bureaucratic circles in the state. Absence of action against those indulging in irregularities has weakened the party and party workers. If not checked, it will be difficult for us to go back to our people for their support,’’ he said.

Another MLA from Ambala area held that while Khattar was an honest leader, some people in the CMO were “tutoring him wrongly”.

“None of us have any personal grievances with Khattar — we just want our demands to be heard seriously. Some people on the fourth floor (CMO) seem to be telling Khattar to ignore our demands,’’ the MLA further said.