Caught on the camera scolding an educationist for burying deep down his name on the plaque, a Punjab Cabinet Minister on Friday virtually laid down the foundation of the “principle of anonymity” on the foundation stones and inaugural plaques, henceforth.
As a set of two videos of the State Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, threatening a school principal for pushing his name to third spot on the inauguration stone in one and taking a u-turn in the second, went viral on Friday, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh was forced to issue a statement on the issue by evening clarifying that there would be no names, including that of the Chief Minister, on inaugural plaques and foundations stones from now on.
In fact, the decision to this effect was already taken by the State Cabinet in its first meeting. Moreover, it was also the part of Congress party’s 2017 Punjab Assembly Election manifesto.
Describing it as another major step towards elimination of VIP culture from the State, Capt Amarinder categorically prohibited the inclusion of names of any Government functionaries, including Ministers and MlAs, on the foundation stones and inaugural plaques.
“The Chief Minister himself is not excluded from these orders, which are aimed at building a stronger connect between the Government and the people by removing the VIP culture barriers,” stated an official spokesperson.
Spokesperson said that the Chief Minister has announced that all projects and programmes, including those inaugurated by the Chief Minister or any of his cabinet colleagues, MlAs or other officials, would from now be dedicated to the “people of Punjab”.
“While there is no bar on Government functionaries and leaders inaugurating or laying the foundation stone of any building or project, the practice of having their names inscribed on such stones or plaques is being discarded with immediate effect, following explicit orders from the Chief Minister,” added the spokesperson
Capt Amarinder has also urged his ministerial and party colleagues to be humble in dealing with any member of the public. “We are in this position today because of the people of the State and it is our duty to treat them with full respect and humility at all times,” the Chief Minister said.
Spokesperson said that the Chief Minister had, soon after taking over the State’s governance and in line with the Congress manifesto promise, given up the symbolic red beacon light on his vehicle as a gesture to show his commitment to shedding the VIP culture.
ON CAMERA: DHARAMSOT THREATENS TO SUSPEND PRINCIPAl
In the video, senior Congress leader Dharamsot was seen fuming at a school principal in Nabha for putting his name at third place in an inauguration stone in the school.
The incident reportedly happened on Thursday at Government Secondary School for Girls in Nabha where Dharamsot was invited as special guest. After someone pointed out that his name should have been at the top, a fuming Dharamsot threatens to suspend woman principal and wonders if she understood what chief guest means.
Interestingly, in the second video, Dharamsot took a volte-face while responding to media and disassociates from his remarks of threatening to suspend school principal.
Dharamsot, at the outset of media interaction, scolded one of his associates when he (associate) tried to speak on the issue.
Asking the media to repeat the question, Dharamsot said that he had accidentally come for the inauguration from community side.
When the media persons told him that he had been videographed when he was threatening to suspend the Principal, Dharamsot said that he had not said anything “on record”.
“What I am saying now before press is on record. Inside hundreds of things happen,” he said. Intriguingly, the building project in the school costing over Rs 1 crore was funded by a Trust.