Kishan’s threat: One more reason for accountability act?

Jaipur: The video that captured P C Kishan, collector of Sriganganagar district, threatening farmers with jail if they did not shut up and listen to him comes as grist in the mill for campaigners seeking an accountability law in the state.
Just days ago, after 100 days of travelling around the 33 districts of the state, the campaigners had told the state government that if moves were not made in two months' time to hold all those receiving a salary from the government to account for their work, an indefinite dharna would begin seeking such a law.
On Monday, collector Kishan lost his cool while hearing out farmers seeking a survey of the loss of their crops in recent hail and rain. As the farmers stressed the need for an early survey to assess crop damage, so that they could also avail compensation from the government, Kishan lost his temper and told them that if they did not listen to him, he would shut them up in jail. This exchange was caught on camera and shared on social media.
The collector has since denied making the threats, saying it was likely the video was doctored or edited incorrectly to make it appear like he threatened the farmers.
Speaking in the state assembly on Wednesday, Kamini Jindal, MLA of Sriganganagar, demanded action against the collector. Repeated attempts to reach state chief secretary CS Rajan to check if action might be initiated against the 2005-batch IAS officer met with no success.
Activist like Nikhil Dey who have been campaigning for the accountability act have said that a job chart of government servants should be drawn up, showing precisely what they are responsible for. If they fail to perform their duties, they should be penalized. Similarly, a citizens' charter should be drawn up, showing what people are entitled to.
‘Take action against collector'
Sri Ganganagar MLA Kamini Jindal on Wednesday demanded action against district collector P C Kishan, who had allegedly threatened farmer protesting and demanding compensation for crops damaged in the recent hailstorms. ``The collector often speaks in the same tone – be it elected representatives or common man who comes for a public hearing. All of us elected representatives victims of his bad behavior,'' claimed Jindal, who belongs to the National Unionist Zamindara Party and had raised the issue on point of information during the zero hour. She said it was not only an insult to the farmers but also of public representatives and called for all members of the house to support her demand. Her demand was supported by Congress's deputy whip Govind Singh Dotasara.