Disturbing trends in country can hurt national interests: Manmohan
New Delhi, Aug 20 : Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday took a veiled dig at the Modi government, saying that some "disturbing trends" witnessed in India over the past few years and perpetrated by certain groups can only hurt national interests.
Speaking at a function where the 'Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavna Award' was conferred on former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi, the senior Congress leader emphasised the need to arrest the trends that are "anathema to the promotion of peace, national integration and communal harmony".
Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's 74th birth anniversary was observed on August 20.
United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi also indirectly attacked the Modi government, saying that the ideologies that reject the "composite essence of our nationhood" must be opposed and there was a need to fight the forces of divisiveness, hate and bigotry.
Manmohan Singh said: "... some disturbing trend that our country has been witnessing over the past few years call for solemn reflection. These unsavoury trends of growing intolerance, communal polarisation, growing violent crime propelled by a hatred of certain groups and of mobs taking the law in their own hands can only harm national interests.
"They are anathema to the promotion of peace, national integration and communal harmony, which are the cherished objectives enshrined in our magnificent Constitution. All of us perhaps need to pause and reflect on how we can go together and contribute to arresting these trends."
The former Prime Minister praised Gopalkrishna Gandhi for speaking on these issues with "great courage and conviction" and for "holding up a mirror to our people at large".
Sonia Gandhi condemned the divisive forces and vowed to take them on collectively. She also hailed the former West Bengal Governor, a grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, for being an "uncompromising champion of constitutional values".
"He is one of the most eloquent and uncompromising champions of the values enshrined in our Constitution, values that are under determined and systematic assault.
"There is much pain and anguish in what he has been writing in recent years and every right-thinking and right-acting Indian shares not only his analysis of what is going wrong but also his profoundly sensitive articulation of what needs to be done.
"We collectively express our resolve to oppose the ideologies that reject the composite essence of our nationhood and to fight the forces of divisiveness, hate and bigotry," the Congress leader said.
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Haryana govt identifies 370 'corrupt' patwaris, their 170 aides; orders action against them
Chandigarh (PTI): The Haryana government has prepared a list of 370 'patwaris' (revenue officials) and 170 private individuals working as their assistants who are allegedly involved in corrupt practices.
The office of the financial commissioner, revenue (FCR) has written to deputy commissioners to initiate stringent action against the corrupt officials.
'Patwaris' maintain land records, certify land possession, mutation and other works.
According to the FCR's communication dated January 14, these 370 'patwaris' across the state have been accused of demanding bribes from people to get their work done.
Kaithal tops the list prepared by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department with 46 "corrupt" 'patwaris', followed by 41 in Sonipat, 36 in Mahendragarh, 27 in Gurugram, 25 in Fatehabad, 23 in Kurukshetra and 20 in Jhajjar.
The list identifies 19 such 'patwaris' in Faridabad, 17 in Palwal, 16 in Rewari, 14 in Yamunanagar, 13 each in Sirsa and Hisar, 12 in Jind, 10 in Bhiwani, nine in Panipat, seven in Karnal, six each in Charkhi Dadri and Nuh, and five each in Ambala and Rohtak.
Panchkula is the only district which does not figure on the list.
The FCR's communication asked deputy commissioners to take action against the "corrupt" 'patwaris' and submit an action taken report within 15 days.
The communication stated that people, who go to 'patwaris' for their land-related work are harassed as these 'patwaris' repeatedly raise objections, forcing people to pay them to get their work done.
It said corrupt practices of such 'patwaris' adversely affect the image of the government.
The report prepared by the department mentions the modus operandi of the 'patwaris', their castes and period of posting.
According to the report, a 'patwari' posted in Ambala for the past 18 months has been harassing the public by demanding bribes for things like mutation, land measurement and rectification of land records. He has deputed a private individual for accepting the money on his behalf, it said.
In Bhiwani, a 'patwari' takes Rs 3,000-4,000 for mutation and a 'patwari' in Charkhi Dadri demands Rs 1,000-2,000 for land mutation, the report stated.
