The Hindu : Other States / Haryana News : Action should be taken against guilty: Chautala

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Friday, May 28, 2004

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Action should be taken against guilty: Chautala

By Our Special Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, MAY 27. The Haryana Chief Minister and Indian National Lok Dal supremo, Om Prakash Chautala, today reacted to the CBI raids against his former political advisers in the JBT teachers' recruitment scam by saying that action should be taken against those who are found guilty by the premier investigating agency. The CBI had conducted raids at 24 places in the State on Wednesday including the residences of the former State president of the INLD, Sher Singh Badshami, and senior bureaucrat, Vidhya Dhar.

Addressing a press conference at Karnal, the Chief Minister refused to comment on "the role of the CBI'' and said that the agency was probing the recruitment of the JBT teachers on the directions of the Supreme Court. On the demand of the Opposition parties seeking his resignation in connection with the CBI raids, he asserted that the enquiry was a routine process and there was no need to resign. He expressed confidence that the enquiry would be free and fair.

Stating that his Government was functioning in a democratic manner and there was no feeling of revenge against anyone, he asserted that no action had ever been taken out of revenge and this policy would continue.

While reiterating that the Assembly elections in the State would be held on schedule in March 2005, he said his regime was prepared for the bye-election to four seats if the Election Commission decided so. When his attention was drawn that the elections might be conducted before schedule, Mr.Chautala said that the country was functioning according to its Constitution and it did not permit anyone to create any kind of instability. He said that those who were saying that the elections to the State Assembly would be held before schedule were simply misleading the people.

Mr.Chautala charged that the Congress was misleading the people by promising to provide electricity and water free of cost.

Replying to a question whether the INLD would join hands with any other political party, he said his options were open and any decision would be taken after announcement of elections.

Reacting to the statements of certain Congress leaders who had advised him to "resign'' because of the INLD rout in the Lok Sabha elections, he asked why had not Bhupinder Singh Hooda resigned when he was the State Congress president and the party had fared badly in the then Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

Meanwhile, Mr.Chautala announced at Panipat that the monsoon session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha would be convened soon to discuss vital issues concerning the State.

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Action should be taken against guilty: Chautala