With the State Government sitting on the demand of removing Pauri Nagar Palika Parishad president Yashpal Benam from the post, speculations are running over why the State Government left things only at stripping him of his financial power.
Things are indeed intriguing that the State Government is dithering to act on the opinion of the Advocate General of the State who is for immediate removal of Benam from his post for the financial irregularities he is involved in.
The insiders say that the State urban development minister Madan Kaushik is unable to take the action because of the chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat’s supposed soft corner for the controversial head of the civic body.
The continued silence on the matter flies in the face of his public announcement made a few months ago during his Pauri trip that legal action would be taken against him soon.
Many local BJP leaders are also wondering why the CM who has made it a habit to flaunt his anti-graft resolve seems to be lacking the spunk to take the drastic action against the person who was indicted of graft as per the inquiry report sent by then Garhwal Commissioner and then district magistrate.
Observers say that the saffron CM is treading the same way once trodden by his Congress predecessor Harish Rawat.
“The CM’s leniency on the matter is baffling in the light of the clear opinion given by the advocate general S N Babulkar who clearly stated that drastic action is warranted as Benam was involved in serious financial irregularities and embezzlement of funds,” an observer said.
Some are of the view that if a special audit of the funds spent by the civic body with Benam at the helm is done a much greater scam to the tune of crores of rupees would come to light.