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A setback for Sheila Govt.

Sujay Mehdudia

"CM seems to be `protecting' those indicted in the PAC report on smart card scam"

NEW DELHI: By deciding to opt for a whip against acceptance of the Public Accounts Committee report on Rs. 150 crore smart card scam severely indicted officials and a private company, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit seems to have lost the high moral ground of being above board on the issue of corruption thereby exposing herself to allegations of wrongdoing.

Political observers here are of the view that the claims of the Chief Minister of being open and transparent have come undone and she has been seen giving "legislative protection" to those who have been accused of corruption.

The latest PAC report by senior Congress legislator S.C. Vats has dented the image of the Delhi Government and is the second successive blow to Ms. Dikshit during the past one week. The earlier one being the PAC report on privatisation of power distribution network that had also charged the Government with not following proper procedure and had talked about "monetary considerations" by the Core Committee for benefiting big business houses. The Chief Minister is already under a cloud on the controversial 140 MGD Sonia Vihar water treatment plant that has failed to take off.

Both the PAC reports have recommended a CBI probe. Many feel that if the Chief Minister has nothing to hide then she should not shy away from a probe. It is also learnt that Assembly Speaker Chaudhary Prem Singh will now send the report to Lieutenant-Governor B.L. Joshi for further action, something that could upset Delhi Government's calculations. It is also understood that the party high command has also taken note of the developments and is closely monitoring the whole situation, including the efforts to bail out a private company accused of corruption.

"Ms. Dikshit has been in a state of crisis due to the wrong advice by her close aides. Some MLAs who surround her all the time continue to feed her with wrong and misleading information and that has led to the present crisis," a senior dissident Minister remarked.

While Ms. Dikshit needs to be come clean on the issue of corruption, observers feel that whatever be the motive, Dr. Vats needs to be complimented for having done such an in-depth report probing various acts of omission and commission in privatisation of power distribution network, smart card scan and on the functioning of the Sales Tax Department. "Dr. Vats has set a precedent that would be very difficult for others to follow.

The work done by him is by far the best since the creation of the Assembly in 1993. He has been able to restore the authority and dignity of the House Committees that had come to be known as another extension of the Delhi Government. In one stroke he has changed the entire perception and done a fabulous job," a senior Parliamentary official associated with the Assembly remarked.

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