Drawing the attention of the state Governor to the incidents occurred in recent past and the just concluded Assembly Session, Congress urged Shekhar Dutt to take action against the alleged administrative anarchism of the State Government which not only tried to impose undeclared censorship against the opposition but also trying to gag the voice of media.
Notably, a Congress delegation including all its MlAs accompanied by former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi and Congress legislature party leader Ravindra Choubey Thursday went to Raj Bhawan and submitted a memorandum to Governor Shekhar Dutt demanding action against the State Government.
In the memorandum, the Congress legislators accused the ruling side of not only violating the fundamental rights of legislators who are elected public representatives under the democratic provisions but also denying them right to expression in the State Assembly.
Mentioning the May 25 Darbha incident in which 32 people including State Congress leadership were killed in Maoist attack on Congress convoy and an equal number was injured, the memorandum alleged that while Congress members were paying tribute to their slain leaders, the chair ordered to expunged major portion of speeches of Ajit Jogi, Dharamjit Singh, Mohammad Akbar and others terming it unparliamentary which was nothing short of violation of the basic rights of legislators.
Also, the memorandum alleged that State Government officials were trying to influence media as many of them personally visiting newspapers offices and dictating what to publish and which one not, which is not only an attack on the freedom of press but also negation of the democratic traditions.
The memorandum also drew the attention of the governor to State Government passing 16 bills and other Government works including supplementary budget in haste and without taking opposition in confidence which quite against the democratic provisions. It urged the governor not to give his nod to these Bills.
Holding the state government responsible for May 25 Darbha massacre, the memorandum alleged that though the state government has accepted lapse in security at its part but even after passing of nearly 2 months time neither the responsibility for this lapse has been fixed not any action was taken against anybody.
By instituting a one man judicial probe commission the state government has virtually put the case in to cold storage. This type of evasive administrative arrangement is abetting Maoist insurgency which Naxal influence growing day by day. Taking into account the charges of Congress MlAs regarding administrative anarchism, bid to impose censorship on press, the memorandum urged the governor to take action against the State Government responsible for Darbha massacre.