After Ram Kumar Gautam, Jannayak Janata Party MLA from Narnaund, the outburst from Tohana MLA Devender Babli, a close aide of senior JJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala, is the latest in a series of rebellious acts being witnessed in the JJP, the coalition partner in the Haryana Government.
Babli who had defeated BJP candidate and State party chief Subhash Barala with a margin of over 50 thousand votes, from Tohana in the 2019 Assembly election, alleged that there was corruption in various departments including Police department in his constituency. He said Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is an honest person but some leaders are misleading him on corruption issue.
Without naming Barala, he targeted the BJP state President saying some BJP leaders do not respect the mandate of the people and create hurdles for elected representative like me to perform my constitutional duties for the welfare of the people. He claimed that JJP MLAs are given step-brotherly treatment in BJP-JJP coalition government.
He alleged that people are being charged lakhs of rupees for their genuine work by some department officials.
Calling the ruling dispensation in the State as the most corrupt he said, nobody is bothered about people. Officials do not listen to me and people of my constituency. I am a social worker not a hard core politician. I join politics for betterment of the society. I am ashamed of being treated by this coalition government to the elected representative. The situation is not good at all.
In an interview with The Pioneer, Babli reveals his political journey and priorities as MLA of his Constituency. Excerpts from the interview:
Three months have passed of this coalition Government. What is your assessment?
The way this coalition government should run, is not happening. The departments are functioning very slowly and people’s concerns are not being redressed swiftly.
What have you done for your constituency in three months?
Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala recently visited my constituency and made several announcements. As per announcement, Rs 15 lakh will be given for small villages while Rs 30 lakh to the big villages for its development. We are working on those projects in which the chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar had earlier announced for my constituency.
What had you promised for your constituency during election campaign? What is the status of its delivery?
Besides my party’s manifesto, I had declared my own manifesto before the election. I had promised the constituency people of clean administration and corruption free governance apart from improving infrastructure and redressal of public grievances. I also had promised to the people a crime free society. But after three months of this government, crime is the highest in my constituency. There is huge corruption in my constituency. Under the prevailing situation, I am unable to provide clean administration and corruption free governance. I am a social worker. I had opted politics for social cause and bringing change in society.
Many JJP MLAs including Ram Kumar Gautam and You are not happy with BJP-JJP coalition government. This coalition government is also supported by independent candidates. Independent MLA Kundu had threatened to withdraw support if CM fails to order a probe into allegations of corruption against former cooperatives minister Manish Grover within a month. Do you think this coalition government will complete its five year tenure?
As of now, I can say that there is no threat to this coalition government and it will complete its five year tenure.
Have you met and complained about your grievance to Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala?
Yes, I have raised this issue before him several times. He says that transfer of officials is being done. Things will get settled with the appointment of new officers.
Would you like to register your verbal or written complaints before the Chief Minister?
Yes, very soon I will meet the chief minister on this issue.
What kind of of problems did you face with local BJP leaders?
They do not allow me to work. Leaders who have lost the election should follow the mandate of the people. He (Barala) is visiting my constituency with police force. Constitution does not allow it. Who had allowed him to reach my constituency with policemen in tow?
A BJP leader had recently said that you have become arrogant after winning the election?
I had also given statement to counter that. People have voted me and sent me for the assembly for the redressal of their concerns.
As you said there is corruption in police department in your constituency. Would you like to meet the State Home Minister Anil Vij?
Yes. There is a gunda raj in police department. There is huge corruption in police stations and police posts of my constituency. Liquor is being served at the police post and police stations. Other illegal activities and mismanagement can be witnessed in the police department. How will people feel safe under such circumstances? Will women feel safe? I have raised the issue of traders, increasing crime, drug peddling before the officials concerned. Officials say you do not have to worry. I am a representative of the people and if I do not worry then who will address people’s concerns. I will soon meet the Home Minister on the issue.
According to you, in which departments, corruption is rampant?
There is massive corruption in Police, Block Development offices, power departments, civic bodies among other departments.
Is CM accessible for legislators? Do you get time to meet CM?
Yes, I do not have any problem to meet Chief Minister. Legislators meet him on Tuesday. I too have met him several times in the past.
What will you do if your concerns are not addressed?
People will come out on roads if their concerns are not addressed. Being a representative of the people, I too will stand by them for their concerns.
Your opponent in the Constituency Subhash Barala is the state BJP chief and people of the constituency might have been consulting him for the redressal of their concerns. Do you think there should be meeting among leaders of BJP and JJP to resolve their differences?
I am a social person not a hard core politician. I lay emphasis on development of the people. People have not elected him in the Assembly election.
He should understand the mandate of the people of the constituency. I told officials to cooperate with me and address the concerns of the people. But some of them are ignoring me and are involved in corrupt practices which I will not allow at any cost.
Do you think senior leaders of JJP should consult party workers and leaders before having an alliance with BJP in the formation of the government?
People have voted me and I became an MLA. Being an MLA I have given authority to JJP leader Dushyant Chautala to take decision regarding government formation keeping in view people’s interest. He decided to support BJP in formation of the Government. There is no problem on that. If coalition government does not function well then people will teach them a lesson in the next election.
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar claims of running corruption free governance in the State. But you are pointing at corruption in your constituency. An independent MLA Kundu also raised the issue of corruption during previous five years of BJP government in his constituency. You comment
CM Khattar is an honest person. But some persons are misleading him. In my constituency, there is rampant corruption. People have to pay money for their genuine work. (During interview, a person told him over phone that a police officer had taken Rs two lakh for withdrawing case filed against him). You have also heard this. You can understand how corruption is rampant in my constituency.