Chandigarh: Senior Congress leader Karan Singh Dalal has sought imposition of President's rule in Haryana, alleging breakdown of constitutional machinery as the state government has "failed" to hold elections to the Panchayati Raj and Municipal bodies on time.
Dalal on Wednesday wrote a letter to the Haryana Governor drawing his attention "towards the breakdown of constitutional machinery in the State by depriving the rural and urban people of their fundamental right of representative governance through elected Gram Panchayats and Municipal bodies".
The Palwal MLA told reporters in Chandigarh that Section 161 of the Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, mandates that the State Government was bound to issue notification under this Act to hold elections for reconstitution of Gram Panchayats, Block Samitis and Zila Parishad at least 15 days prior to the expiry of the term of the incumbent bodies, but it has failed to do so.
"As the term of three tier Panchayati Raj bodies expires on July 24, 2015, the process of election should have been completed before July 10, 2015, but the BJP Government has failed to do so."
"Likewise, the term of members of all municipalities in the State has already expired recently and the State government instead of fulfilling its constitutional duty to hold election, as mandated by the Haryana Municipal Act 1973 and as amended from time to time, on expiry of their five year term has handed over the reins of these civic bodies to bureaucrats as administrators depriving the people of their fundamental right to self-governance," he stated.
Dalal said that in the light of the facts "which clearly point towards breakdown of constitutional machinery" he has requested the State Governor to recommend to the President of India for imposing President's rule in Haryana.
Replying to a question, Karan Singh Dalal alleged that the Manohar Lal Khattar led BJP Government in the State "has become unpopular within just eight months of coming to power and to avoid facing wrath of the people in these polls (panchayat and civic elections), they want to keep them in abeyance.
"Like the civic bodies, we (Congress) suspect that the state government may hand over the reins of the Panchayat bodies to the administrators and thus control them through proxy," he said.
He claimed that there was growing anger among the public towards the BJP Government in Haryana and different sections including employees, Guest teachers, nursing students were agitating on various issues.
"BJP is aware of the fact that if elections to PRIs and civic bodies are held, the people will vent out their anger against them, which is why they are delaying the process".
To a question, he said that Haryana Congress will soon hold a meeting of its legislature group to decide on the next course of action on the issue that may include moving court or hitting the streets to compel the government to immediately hold these elections.
"The Khattar government has in recent times held orientation programmes for the MLAs. It seems that this inexperienced government also needs to undergo an orientation course to remind itself of its duties to respect the constitution and not deny the legitimate and fundamental right of the people to elect their representatives at the grassroot and the municipal level," he said.
Dalal said that raising these vital issues was also the primarily responsibility of the main opposition party the Indian National Lok Dal, "but they have only been playing second fiddle to the BJP, both inside and outside the state assembly".
Notably, BJP has for the first time in the history of Haryana, which was carved out as a separate state in 1966, formed government on its own. The saffron party rode to majority in the assembly polls held in October 2014.
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