Editorial
PM's directive is being subverted by her own men
Handle the offenders with an iron hand
THE reported grabbing of riverbank for building a market at Golachipa is an instance of clear violation of the Prime Minister's directive to the contrary. This time it is a ruling party lawmaker who is allegedly involved in the crime in collusion with some officials of the administration.
The incident has occurred at a time when the government is virtually at war with grabbers of riverbanks including other types of khas lands by vested groups. But in spite of its efforts, the government is finding it hard, though, to rid the rivers of the powerful quarters involved.
It was expected at this moment that the administration and the ruling party people would work closely to fight the land-grabbers together and render the government drive successful.
Unfortunately though, as the Golachipa case clearly illustrates, the ruling party MP in question and some officials of the administration themselves are now subverting the government's policy.
What would the man in the street infer from it? And they would even be questioning the government's seriousness of intention.
One often comes across similar reports of ruling party workers getting involved in extortion, tender-business and various other kinds of violent crimes. By these acts, they have already inflicted irreparable damage to the government's image and credibility. The government needs to control these elements with an iron hand.
The Golachipa incident is a test for the government's will. Its own men in the administration and the party thus caught in the act of grabbing khas land of a river have thrown a challenge to the government from within. The challenge has to be met squarely.
The violators of the government directive in this case deserve the same punishment as is being dealt out to others committing the same offence. And any leniency or vacillation on the part of the government to handle the offenders in the present case in an exemplary manner will only be read by many as a sign of its weakness.
It is therefore high time that the government swung into action. Otherwise its credibility will be at stake.
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