Several months have passed since the State Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik assured while in Pauri that legal action would be taken against the Pauri Nagar Palika Parishad president Yashpal Benam who was found guilty of gross financial irregularities as per the inquiry report submitted by then district magistrate and then Garhwal commissioner.
Observers say that it is intriguing why no action has been taken against him despite the State Government having stripped him of financial power.
The refrain among the people of the town is that the BJP Government has been pampering him in the same way its predecessor helmed by the Congress did.
“It is indeed baffling. While on one hand, the chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat is harping on zero tolerance for corruption tune his Government is dithering over taking action against the person who has been found guilty of corruption.
Several complaints have been served to the Chief Minister, urban development minister and the district magistrates against him over the past few months. Even some BJP leaders and members of the civic body have done the same.
However, the state government has been keeping a stony silence when it comes to taking action against the corruption-tainted president of the Nagar Palika.
Even the special audit report involving his tenure is being allowed to gather dust,” said a senior citizen and resident of the town.
Observers say that the State Government is sitting on the matter because the Chief Minister and another Minister Dhan Singh Rawat are nurturing a soft corner for Benam.
“This studied silence is being frowned upon even by the local BJP leaders and activists,” said an observer.