Govt fails to take action against erring officials in Haldwani: Cong
PrashantNews
Congress on Monday slammed the BJP government in Uttarakhand for taking no action against all those administrative officials who did not take adequate precautions on the fateful evening of Thursday when the large scale violence broke out in the Banbhulpura area of Haldwani town in Uttarakhand.
“It is good that the CM has announced a police station which is a security measure in Banbhulpura. But the government has not taken any action against all those officials who went to Banbhulpura area ignoring intelligence inputs,” said state Congress President Karan Mahara.
Mahara was reacting over Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s announcement of a police station in place of illegal religious structures which were demolished in Banbhulpura area in Haldwani town of Nainital district on Feb 8.
The CM’s announcement was immediately welcomed by the BJP state unit. “We welcome the announcement of the Chief Minister to build a police station at Banbhulpura,” said Manvir Singh Chauhan, the state BJP spokesman.
“For internal security whatever the steps needed should be taken but there is no action against the erring officials, who are guilty in the entire episode of the Banbhulpura,” said Mahara. When asked to elaborate on the guilty officials, Mahara said guilty means all those officials whose conduct was irresponsible. These officials went to Banbhulpura area at around 4 PM at a time when LIU reports had indicated that there was danger. They knew very well that within the next two hours the darkness will envelop. More importantly, the official who was on transfer was sent to lead the demolition drive party,” Mahra said. However, he did not name the official but said he held important responsibilities like tehsildar and also other important positions in Haldwani.
He also said the administration should have conducted a recce through drone in Banbhulpura area before the demolition drive. “You take extra precautions when you are going to demolish the religious structures,” Mahara emphasized. In such situations, the government deploys PAC and central forces also.
He also claimed that the government had sealed the two structures prior the demolition. “When the structures were sealed then there should have been no problem. When these structures were sealed some people had helped the administration in sealing them. But on the fateful day of Feb 8, these people had gone to Meerut. When these people were not present in Banbhulpura, the administrative officials could have avoided action on that day, Mahara said.
“This is very surprising that despite all the negligence, no action has been taken against the erring officials,” Mahara lamented.