No surprises from BJP in 'Dial a Minister' reality check ahead of today's shutdown

Bivek Mathur. Updated: 9/18/2017 12:57:45 AM Front Page

Only two Ministers turn up to defence 'inaccessibility'

JAMMU: As Jammu braces for first anti-BJP shutdown and the party high command discusses with local leaders the complaints of alleged inefficiency and inaccessibility, only three of ten Ministers belonging to the party could be traced down for their comment as the remaining remained trade-markedly 'inaccessible' or on diverted calls.
Even as Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry had listed a range of specific issues against the BJP part of coalition government while calling for Monday's shutdown, a number of delegations that called on the Home Minister Rajnath Singh during his recent visit to Jammu accused the BJP Ministers of inefficiency and inaccessibility.
While efficiency is a collective responsibility of the government, The News Now tried to check the accessibility of the Ministers and found the status nearly close to what is widely alleged. The BJP state president Sat Sharma was, however, instantly available on telephone and present his side story.
Over six hours on Sunday, efforts were made by this reporter to reach on telephone, directly or through aides, Deputy Chief Minister (Minister for Power and Housing) Dr Nirmal Singh, Forest Minister Choudhary Lal Singh, Irrigation Minister Choudhary Sham Lal, Industries Minister, Chander Prakash Ganga, Health Minister Bali Ram Bhagat, Animal Husbandry Minister Abdul Ghani Kohli, Cooperatives Minister Chhering Dorje and Ministers of State Priya Sethi, Ajay Nanda and Sunil Sharma.
Results were not entirely contrary to what is being alleged. Choudhary Sham Lal and Ajay Nanda were the only Ministers available on phone and they defended the party colleagues against allegations of inaccessibility.
When contacted, BJP chief Sat Sharma said, "see, I don't want to speak even a word on bandh but I would like to tell you that our party is being criticized for even no issue."
"I fought a long battle to get the compensation announced to the family of Chamel Singh, the Indian citizen killed inside Pakistan's Kot Lakhpat Jail. When I handed over the cheque to his widow, one of the NC leaders created a huge controversy saying how could a legislator hand over the cheque to the woman. So, whatever we're doing is a bad idea for the opposition," Sharma said.
On being questioned whether attempts are being made to ensure that Chamber takes its call back, Sharma said, "No."
Junior Minister Ajay Nanda said, "I think the statement of Sat Sharma is being twisted. He didn't say anything wrong." "As far as Chamber's bandh call is concerned, everyone has the right to protest," he said.
Sham Choudhary, the Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control said, "No developmental project is at standstill mode in Jammu. Work on the Tawi Barrage project, Gandola Project is going on. These projects will be completed on time."
"We cannot stop Chamber from announcing or participating in Jammu bandh but as far as its allegations are concerned, they are not true," Choudhary said.
The Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) has given the Jammu Bandh call allegedly over some "irresponsible utterances" by BJP State President, Sat Sharma to an electronic channel and wide range of other issues including state government's failure in taking up the artificial lake project, non-acquisition of land for AIIMS at Vijaypur, Samba, delay in abolishment of toll tax at Lakhanpur and deporting to Rohingya Muslims back to their country.
The Jammu bandh call of Chamber has been supported by prominent trade and transport union bodies besides some of the political parties and if the bandh gets good response tomorrow, it would be a major setback to BJP in its traditional bastion, Jammu from where it got huge 25 seats in the last assembly elections.

Updated On 9/18/2017 11:15:36 AM


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