Dehra Dun : It is official now, for not only the Opposition is talking of the rampant corruption prevalent in Uttarakhand, but even vidhan sabha Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal, who belongs to the ruling Congress party, has openly voiced his concern saying that political, social and official corruption had become the order of the day.
Mincing no words he said that the rampant overall corruption was finishing this small mountain state. “The state is being looted and plundered from all directions and under these conditions it would be nigh impossible to save the state. People from all walks of life will have come together and contemplate over this grave issue”, he added.
In an emotional outburst of pent up feelings of frustration, the Speaker told scribes that it was high time that all sections put their shoulders together in working honestly for the upliftment of the state, which was the only way that Uttarakhand could move on the path of development, something that the agitators for a separate hill state had dreamt of.
Kunjwal went on to say that it is an irony that the people of this small mountain state were known all over the country for their honesty and dedication, but the manner in which corruption is tightening its vice-like grip from all sides and calling the shots in all sections of governance, had put a question mark on the very future of Uttarakhand and its people.
He said that it was tragic that neither the powers that be, nor the people were concerned of the fact that earlier people talked of the prevailing rampant corruption in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, but now they were openly admitting that Uttarakhand had taken over from these two states and topped the list of the most corrupt state, where the corrupt had taken over.
Incidentally one can only but imagine to what extent have the corrupt and corruption has taken over the state. All efforts to tem the malaise and bring the corrupt officials are nipped in the but by the bureaucracy itself, even as chief minister Vijay Bahuguna is making efforts to show the intent but finds himself completely handicappe4d.
This can be gauged from the fact that the chief minister asked all the departments to give a list of corrupt or tainted officers, but not a single department has so far handed over the list to the chief minister’s office, perhaps sending the message that there are no corrupt officers. This is when there probes going on against and complaints not only against PCS officers, but IAS officers also.
A journalist with over 40 years of experience, Jagdish Bhatt was Editor, Hill Post (Uttarakhand).
Jagdish had worked with India’s leading English dailies, which include Times of India, Indian Express, Pioneer and several other reputed publications. A highly acclaimed journalist, he was a recipient of many awards
Jagdish Bhatt, aged 72, breathed his last on 28th August 2021 at his Dehradun residence.
