Model Code of Conduct in effect due to the upcoming Assembly elections might be haunting State politicians but the leaders seem to be more enthusiastic to take part in poll campaigning than sparing some time for the most revered leader of the State Birsa Munda.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren chose to keep mum before the audience on the occasion of Day celebrations at Aryabhatta Auditorium on Saturday despite the fact that around hundreds of audiences gathered on the occasion kept waiting for him since long. Being the chief guest he arrived, garlanded the Birsa Munda’s statue, watched the welcome song and left in a hurry.
Sources said that the Chief Minister had to attend some other ‘important’ work so he did not wait till the completion of the programme. Chief Secretary Sajal Chakraverty and Jharkhand State Commission for Women chairperson Mahua Maji also left the venue after the CM. Anganwadi sevikas from all the corners of the State capital among the audience expressed their annoyance over the ‘speech miss’.
“As directed by our block officers, we all reached here on time with the hope of listening to CM’s speech on the foundation day. But, he did not even greet the mass with a small speech. It was disheartening since the public always hope to hear something from the CM’s side especially when the head of the State is the chief guest,” Karbala Chowk anganwadi sevika Hemlata Devi said.
Similarly, Nirmala Convent principal Shilpi Rani accompanied with her teachers’ team in the hall looked disappointed. “Our State grew a year older today. The Chief Minister could have at least expressed gratitude to the public for their faith in the Government. It is sad that none of the CM since formation of the State in 2000 had been able to form a Stable Government in the State. The CM could have at least highlighted on the culture and history of the State ending with foundation day greetings to all the denizens,” Rani said.
Members of the State wing of Bharat Scout and Guide who provided their service within the auditorium also felt disheartened with the situation there. “Each leader is trying to encourage students and other sections of the society to cast their vote as it is a Constitutional right. The CM could have utilised the platform of today’s celebrations for spreading awareness on voting,” district organising commissioner of the wing Dilip Kumar said.
As per the Model Code of Conduct a politician cannot announce new schemes or make promises during a Government function but, said a senior official, “Speaking a few words for encouragement of youths or a small speech on any relevant topic concerning the State might not have done any harm.”
Even in the year 2009 when the Model Code of Conduct was in force and the State was under President’s Rule, then Governor K Shankaranarayanan had delivered a speech focusing on transparency in governance and a message of non-violence to the youths.
Notably, Ranchi DC Vinay Kumar Choubey had said on Friday that the CM was free to interact with people on the occasion of foundation day following the norms of ongoing Model Code of Conduct.
Meanwhile, handful of the designated State officials like Arts, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs secretary Vandana Dadel and senior superintendent of police Prabhat Kumar left after the programme while some kept clicking pictures of the dance and drama performances of school children and artists invited from Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Khunti.
Asked how the celebrations would help the local artists, Dadel mentioned organising State-level cultural programmes are grooming the talents residing on the outskirts of the State.