Sidhu slams Centre, says CBI has been turned into a "puppet"
Pune: Punjab minister and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu Monday alleged that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is being made to act like a "puppet" and there is an attempt to turn democracy into "danda tantra".
Sidhu's remarks came in the backdrop of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's sit-in against the CBI's attempt to question the Kolkata police commissioner in connection with chit fund scam cases.
"CBI is an independent and autonomous institution but you (the Centre) have made it a puppet...what prompted four judges of Supreme Court to come out in open and hold a press conference (last year)...?see the condition of RAW and how CBI chief was treated when he was trying to project a truth.
"Democracy has been turned into `danda tantra' (rule of the stick)," said Sidhu, adding the CBI's image has taken a beating.
The cricketer-turned-politician was here to interact with students as part of a youth outreach programme launched by the Congress party. He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the event.
Punjab's Minister for Culture and Tourism said there are certain people who label those questioning them as "anti- national".
"There is an attempt to spread politics of fear and the condition in the country is such that if one does not agree with the opinion (of a section of people), he will be arm-twisted," he said.
Lending his support to Banerjee, Sidhu said whatever is happening in West Bengal will only strengthen the opposition.
"Because people are seeing how you are trying to demean a state government which was voted by people of the state, by using muscle power and abusing CBI," he said.
The minister, however, said the people of the country are wise and in a democracy citizens do not like rulers who show their ego.
"Ego has crept into the ruling party and whenever there is an ego, the end is imminent because power means doing good for people not to arm-twist, scare or terrorise (them)," he maintained.
Asked about Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's formal entry into politics, he said she has injected a positive energy into the Congress which will benefit from her charismatic personality.
"She has not been given an easy task. She has been made in-charge of UP (Eastern) and the task she has been assigned is arduous and daunting," he said.
Sidhu, talking about the present Indian cricket team, said he has seen many national squads in his career, but the side currently led by Virat Kohli is the best.
The 55-year-old former cricketer praised Kohli for his physical fitness and ability to play under pressure, and rated the Indian skipper as the world's No. 1 batsman.
Sidhu, elaborating on the Congress's youth policy and the outreach programme,said the party is contacting youngsters to know what they are thinking.
"This is a unique initiative taken by (Congress president) Rahul Gandhi and it provides youths an opportunity to express their views regarding their aspirations," he said.
Sidhu said Gandhi is going to come out with a policy that will support the young India.
"This youth policy is to give wings to the aspirations of youth after detailed deliberations with them," he added.
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SC reinstates woman sarpanch, imposes Rs 1 lakh cost on Chhattisgarh govt for harassment
New Delhi, Nov 14: Coming down heavily on the Chhattisgarh government for removing an elected woman sarpanch of a remote village for "unjustified reasons," the Supreme Court on Monday observed the state wanted the village head to go with a "begging bowl before a babu (bureaucrat)".
A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh on the state government to be released in four weeks to Sonam Lakra, the woman sarpanch of a village in Jashpur district, for the mental harassment she suffered.
"This is a case of high-handedness on the part of the authorities in removing an elected sarpanch, a young woman who thought of serving her village in a remote area of Chhattisgarh.
"Instead of admiring her commitments or cooperating with her or extending a helping hand in her endeavour for the development of her village, she was wronged for absolutely uncalled for and unjustified reasons," the bench said.
The top court termed the initiation of proceedings as a "lame excuse" for removing her from the post of sarpanch over a delay in the supply of construction materials and completion of construction work.
"Construction works involve engineers, contractors and timely supply of material besides vagaries of weather and therefore, how can a sarpanch be held responsible for the delay in construction works, unless it is found that there was a delay in allocation of work or performance of a specific duty assigned to her."
"We are satisfied that initiation of proceedings was a lame excuse and the appellant was removed from the office of Sarpanch on the false pretext," the top court said in its order.
While quashing the removal order passed by the sub-divisional officer (revenue), the bench reinstated her to the post of sarpanch till the completion of her term.
"Since the appellant has been harassed and subjected to avoidable litigation, we award the cost of Rs 1 lakh to her which shall be paid within four weeks by the state of Chhattisgarh," the bench said.
It said the state is at liberty to collect the amount from the officers responsible for causing her harassment.
The top court also directed the chief secretary of the state to hold an inquiry and find out the officers/officials responsible for the harassment of the elected representative.
During the hearing of the matter, the top court warned the counsel for the state government for repetitive disruptions saying, "Don't force us to say something harsh."
The counsel submitted that the sarpanch had a remedy available to her and she could appeal against the order of removal before the collector.
"That is what you want. You (state) want a sarpanch to go with a begging bowl before the babu... who in some cases may have been promoted from the post of clerk," the bench observed.
It said the sub-divisional officer (revenue), who passed the arbitrary removal order, seemingly lacked the technical knowledge about how much time construction work takes.
On April 5, the top court, while issuing notice on the plea of Lakra challenging the February 29 order of the high court dismissing her petition against the removal order, directed for a stay on the direction removing her from the post of Sarpanch.
"Meanwhile, the operation of the impugned orders passed by the sub-divisional officer (revenue), Pharsabahar, district Jashpur, Chhattisgarh, removing the petitioner from the post of sarpanch, gram panchayat Sajbahar, as well as that of the high court, shall remain stayed.
"Resultantly, the petitioner shall be reinstated as the sarpanch of the gram panchayat and shall be allowed to perform her duties without any hindrance," the bench had ordered.
Lakra was elected as sarpanch of Sajbahar Panchayat in Jashpur district of the state in January 2020. Some complaints were received with regard to irregularity in the completion of the construction work.
On May 26, 2023, the sub-divisional officer (revenue) registered the case and issued a show-cause notice to her.
Lakra (27) filed a reply stating that the work was sanctioned vide order dated December 16, 2022, under the Rural Industrial Park (RIPA), but she received it from the secretary of the gram panchayat on March 21, 2023.
Therefore, it was not possible to complete the work in such a short span of time, she had said.
It was stated that during the pendency of the enquiry, the work was completed and the oral intimation was given to the authority concerned. However, on January 18, she was removed from the office of sarpanch on the charge that she could not complete the work.
