GANGTOK, 30 August: “We have withdrawn the Bill for the moment, but will bring it to the house again after explaining its aims and objectives in detail to the people. Next time, the Bill shall come after public discussions, deliberations, debates and with the consent of the people,” stated Chief Minister Pawan Chamling in his valedictory remarks in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly today.
The Chief Minister was referring to the withdrawal of the Sikkim Prevention and Control of Disturbance of Public Order bill which was introduced by him on 11 August and withdrawn when the Legislative Assembly met next on 26 August. The Governor, it may be recalled, had advised the State Government to withdraw the Bill which was received by a slew of protests from social and political organisations in the state. “The opposition parties have misled the people by highlighting invalid points of the Public Order Bill ignoring the fact that the Bill is actually in favour of the freedom of expression of the people and secures this freedom enshrined under Article 19 of the Constitution,” explained the CM.
While supporting the clauses in the Bill, he stated that the Bill actually prevented people from disturbing the peace and security of the state in the name of caste, religion or ethnic differences. While stating that the Bill did not seek to ban political parties or individuals from voicing their protests, he said that the intention of framing the Bill was to avoid a situation where the tranquility of the state was disturbed on communal lines.
“A few irresponsible politicians from the opposition have not understood the purport of the Bill. The Bill bans people from protesting against any religion, caste or creed, as it reads clearly in Explanation-3 of the Bill,” he pointed out.
The CM stressed that as the ruling party in the state, he and his cabinet had a ‘huge responsibility’ towards maintaining the fabric of social and communal harmony in the state and said that this Bill was aimed for that purpose.
“The opposition should understand that there will be no freedom of expression if there is a law and order situation in the state. Rights can be exercised to their fullest only if there is a cordial and democratic environment. Where is it written in the Bill that no one will be allowed to exercise his or her right to free expression? And how do they justify their allegation that rights will be violated if the Bill were to go through?” expressed the CM.
He added that the Bill had several other attributes which would have further strengthened laws to facilitate a drugs-free Sikkim and also prevent minors from getting access to vices like alcohol and nicotine.
Further, he explained, the Bill would have also put an end to extortion which his government has been working tirelessly to end for the past 18 years since the SDF came into power.
“We want an exemplary Sikkim, hence we expect the opposition parties to engage in responsible politics, unlike what is happening now. The Bill should have been supported as it was for a better Sikkim. However, we shall seek the mandate of the people on the Bill and bring it back to the SLA later,” he said.
The Chief Minister, while speaking on his 35-day village to village tour, said that this was an exemplary effort of the state government to connect directly with the people at the grassroots.
“We have confirmed that the basic minimum needs of the people of the state have been delivered as there are not many major demands in this regard. We will implement the recommendations and demands of the people starting September and will complete them within three years. We will be doing this in two phases,” he explained.
Here, he added that the 11-volume compilation of the demands of the people tabled in the House today was a historic initiative as well and was now the ‘master Plan for qualitative development’.
“These are the hopes and aspirations of the people which have been compiled and I am sure that many others will follow in our footsteps since this is working at the very ground level and among the people,” he said.
He concluded by stating that his government supported the Jan Lokpal proposal and the resolution passed by the Parliament and said that this would lead to a corruption free and transparent system of governance. However, he added, until the people did not understand the importance of this positive transformation and undertake a change in attitude and thinking, the importance of this historic Bill would be lost.
“Has Section 302 of the IPC prevented murders from taking place? What I want to get to here is that till the people do not change their ways of thinking very little can be achieved. The end to financial corruption can only be achieved if mental and other aspects of corruption are addressed as well. However, I welcome the Bill and we will implement the same as soon as the parliament gives its assent,” he said.
He pointed out that it was only a government like the Sikkim Democratic Front which had already set up the Patra Commission under which the allegations of corruption against the leadership were being investigated.
“What is a better way of upholding transparency than by putting your own self under the scanner,” he concluded.
The Chief Minister was referring to the withdrawal of the Sikkim Prevention and Control of Disturbance of Public Order bill which was introduced by him on 11 August and withdrawn when the Legislative Assembly met next on 26 August. The Governor, it may be recalled, had advised the State Government to withdraw the Bill which was received by a slew of protests from social and political organisations in the state. “The opposition parties have misled the people by highlighting invalid points of the Public Order Bill ignoring the fact that the Bill is actually in favour of the freedom of expression of the people and secures this freedom enshrined under Article 19 of the Constitution,” explained the CM.
While supporting the clauses in the Bill, he stated that the Bill actually prevented people from disturbing the peace and security of the state in the name of caste, religion or ethnic differences. While stating that the Bill did not seek to ban political parties or individuals from voicing their protests, he said that the intention of framing the Bill was to avoid a situation where the tranquility of the state was disturbed on communal lines.
“A few irresponsible politicians from the opposition have not understood the purport of the Bill. The Bill bans people from protesting against any religion, caste or creed, as it reads clearly in Explanation-3 of the Bill,” he pointed out.
The CM stressed that as the ruling party in the state, he and his cabinet had a ‘huge responsibility’ towards maintaining the fabric of social and communal harmony in the state and said that this Bill was aimed for that purpose.
“The opposition should understand that there will be no freedom of expression if there is a law and order situation in the state. Rights can be exercised to their fullest only if there is a cordial and democratic environment. Where is it written in the Bill that no one will be allowed to exercise his or her right to free expression? And how do they justify their allegation that rights will be violated if the Bill were to go through?” expressed the CM.
He added that the Bill had several other attributes which would have further strengthened laws to facilitate a drugs-free Sikkim and also prevent minors from getting access to vices like alcohol and nicotine.
Further, he explained, the Bill would have also put an end to extortion which his government has been working tirelessly to end for the past 18 years since the SDF came into power.
“We want an exemplary Sikkim, hence we expect the opposition parties to engage in responsible politics, unlike what is happening now. The Bill should have been supported as it was for a better Sikkim. However, we shall seek the mandate of the people on the Bill and bring it back to the SLA later,” he said.
The Chief Minister, while speaking on his 35-day village to village tour, said that this was an exemplary effort of the state government to connect directly with the people at the grassroots.
“We have confirmed that the basic minimum needs of the people of the state have been delivered as there are not many major demands in this regard. We will implement the recommendations and demands of the people starting September and will complete them within three years. We will be doing this in two phases,” he explained.
Here, he added that the 11-volume compilation of the demands of the people tabled in the House today was a historic initiative as well and was now the ‘master Plan for qualitative development’.
“These are the hopes and aspirations of the people which have been compiled and I am sure that many others will follow in our footsteps since this is working at the very ground level and among the people,” he said.
He concluded by stating that his government supported the Jan Lokpal proposal and the resolution passed by the Parliament and said that this would lead to a corruption free and transparent system of governance. However, he added, until the people did not understand the importance of this positive transformation and undertake a change in attitude and thinking, the importance of this historic Bill would be lost.
“Has Section 302 of the IPC prevented murders from taking place? What I want to get to here is that till the people do not change their ways of thinking very little can be achieved. The end to financial corruption can only be achieved if mental and other aspects of corruption are addressed as well. However, I welcome the Bill and we will implement the same as soon as the parliament gives its assent,” he said.
He pointed out that it was only a government like the Sikkim Democratic Front which had already set up the Patra Commission under which the allegations of corruption against the leadership were being investigated.
“What is a better way of upholding transparency than by putting your own self under the scanner,” he concluded.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Readers are invited to comment on, criticise, run down, even appreciate if they like something in this blog. Comments carrying abusive/ indecorous language and personal attacks, except when against the people working on this blog, will be deleted. It will be exciting for all to enjoy some earnest debates on this blog...