The Uttar Pradesh chief minister vows to curb corruption and bring in transparency in governance. Rediff.com contributor Sharat Pradhan reports from Lucknow
Taking a leaf out of the Arvind Kejriwal book, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has started emphasising on development and transparency in governance.
This was amply demonstrated at a press conference addressed by Akhilesh in Lucknow on Wednesday evening. Even as the Yadav family continued to dominate the ruling Samajwadi Party and blatantly practiced the politics of caste and religion, the CM sought to stress that development and transparency were on top its 165- point agenda for 2015-16.
He was out to impress that this was the first time that an agenda had been set well before the preparation of the annual budget. Unlike the past when the budget would determine the course of development, the agenda would now lay down the guideline for the budget, he pointed out while releasing ‘UP’s Development Agenda for 2015-16’.
“I believe in using technology to curb corruption and to bring in greater transparency in the functioning of the government,” he said, while declaring that tablets would soon be provided to the lowest functionaries in the land revenue department as a part of the transparency effort.
Asked if action would be taken against bigwigs involved in large scale corruption, he shot back, “Well, we have already initiated measures against some; they have even been sent to jail” adding, “the exercise will continue and more heads would roll in times to come.”
“Our biggest challenge right from day one was to fulfil every commitment we made in our election manifesto; and I am happy to have ensured that so far,” the CM said.
Citing an example, he said, “My plan to connect all district headquarters across the state with a four-lane highway is already underway and would be accomplished very soon.”
He was confident of insuring a 22-hour power supply to all big cities and 16-hour supply to the rural areas by the middle of 2016. Asked how he hoped to fill the large gap between the demand and supply of power in the state, he said, “This was being done by both bringing in the private sector under ‘public-private partnership’ model.” He also talked about tapping solar energy in a big way besides undertaking construction of bridges on different rivers.
However, when his attention was drawn to the deteriorating law and order and enhancing crime rate, he instantly retaliated by blaming the media for “painting am exaggerated picture.” Defending the inefficient and corrupt police, he said, “The police is doing its job but the media has been distorting facts and magnifying the crime.”
Earlier, Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan gave out a detailed agenda for development, covering areas like HRD, health, roads, power, rural and urban development as well as the social sector. “Unlike the past when such development plans were prepared in closed rooms, the chief minister chose to invite suggestions from common public through the official website and we have made it a point to include all such suggestions in the new development agenda for 2015-16,” Ranjan pointed out.
Image: Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav
