‘Police, politicians and bureaucracy nexus with criminals causes mess in city’

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 9

Member of Legislature Assembly for the fifth time and first Mayor of the Municipal Corporation (MC) Amritsar, Om Parkash Soni, believes that police, politicians and bureaucrats’ nexus with corrupt middlemen and criminals causes all mess in the city.

He claimed that a Station House Officer (SHO) at the police station could curb drugs peddling in his jurisdiction within 10 days and an officer of the MC could remove all encroachments, only if they were honest.

He also targeted politicians for being equally responsible for various problems, including drugs, law and order, besides civic issues in the city.

Being first Mayor of the city, what is your opinion about the role of the Municipal Corporation in development?

The Municipal Corporation is a representative body of local residents, which is constituted for their betterment. It runs with the money of local tax payers. Residents pay taxes for allowances of elected representatives, salaries of officials and employees. It is the duty of elected representatives to provide best infrastructure to residents. Every person in the city has right to drink clean potable water, use efficient sewerage, garbage collection and solid waste management system, swift public transport, fine roads and benefit from greenery.

But there is nothing in the city, where are we lacking?

As bureaucrats and politicians are corrupt, they are not concerned about welfare of residents. When I was Mayor of the city, I widened and introduced cemented roads, redeveloped gardens and planted trees. The situation has been getting worsen with every passing year. Residents are suffering from diseases due to unhygienic environment and contaminated water. The government has failed to provide clean potable water. Roads have been dug up in the city without any reason. Green belts have been encroached.

Several development projects have been going on in the city. What is your take?

It is a sheer wastage of money. The government has been harassing residents. The BRTS is not viable and soon after its completion the government will shut it. Development works during election season do not sustain. The city needs continuous development.

Traffic jam is one of the major issues. How can the city get rid of this problem?

There are two government agencies, which are responsible for it. The Municipal Corporation has to widen roads, make slips roads and remove encroachments. The traffic police has to implement rules. If there is a routine traffic issue, it means they are not taking any responsibility. The bureaucracy is also responsible for the mess.

When the Police or Transport Departments take action against violators, political parties come out in support of agitators and pressurise bureaucracy? Like in the case of auto-rickshaws.

We are representative of the people. Whenever the public agitates, we lead them. But the bureaucracy should not allow any wrong doing. They have to take action in routine manner. Why do officials wake up from slumber after a major accident?

You are in politics for past three decades. How was the industry transferred from the city?

It is due to the policy of the Centre government. The Vajpayee-led NDA government had announced tax free holiday for the industry in neighbouring states. So, industrialists moved to other states. As many as 22,000 units were shut down in the state due to anti-industry policy of the incumbent government. There were 400 fan manufacturing units in Amritsar. Now, only a few survive. The governments have to think about unemployment of locals. I have raised voice and met Manmohan Singh, former PM, in this regard.

Theft and snatchings incidents have become a routine affair. What is your take on law and order situation?

Not just the city, there is no law and order in the entire state. Murders, robberies, snatchings are frequently reported. The police has been working under pressure of leaders of the ruling parties. Policemen have been patronising wrong doings of leaders. An SHO in my constituency patronised thieves and gave them a free hand to commit crime. The police do not return recovered goods to rightful owners. Politicians get their share from police officials.

The city is worst hit by heroin (Chitta). The people blame leaders of political parties for selling drugs?

I can blame anyone and some else can level the same allegation on me, but it is hard to prove. I can’t take responsibility of any politician. Besides, I do not find fault with anyone. I advocate that the SHO of a police station can curb the drug menace within 10 days. But, police officials are corrupt.