Health Minister's threat to quit

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, MARCH. 28.

Stung by allegations of wrongdoings and corruption in the recent recruitment drive of the State Health Department by the party MLAs on Monday, the Delhi Health Minister, Dr. A.K.Walia, today ``threatened to resign'' from the Cabinet at the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party.

Taking everyone by surprise, a visibly upset Dr. Walia, declared at the CLP that he was ready to step down. Someone else could take up his position if people were unhappy with his performance. ``I am not here to listen to abuses and baseless allegations by MLAs. It is unfortunate such aspersions are being cast. The Government could very well ask the Subordinate Services Selection Board to carry out the induction of Class-D staff. I would rather be happy as an MLA than take all this nonsense,'' Dr. Walia is understood to have stated.

On Tuesday, a large number of MLAs, mostly loyalists, had created a ruckus at the CLP and targeted Ministers. It is understood that Dr. Walia, had decided to take the MLAs head on after discussing the matter with the Power Minister, Dr. Narendra Nath. All through the CLP meeting, the Chief Minister, Ms. Sheila Dikshit, remained a mute spectator. In fact, the tirade against the Ministers continued for the third successive day in the CLP. The DPCC(I) president, Mr. Subhash Chopra, did not attend the meeting.

The Development Minister, Dr. Yoganand Shastri, was present when the meeting began but left shortly afterwards. Others present included the Transport Minister, Mr. Parvez Hashmi, the Social Welfare Minister, Ms. Krishna Tirath, and the Finance Minister, Mr. Mahinder Singh Saathi. Some MLAs, including Mr. Amrish Gautam, even alleged that Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 5 lakh was being taken as bribe for recruitment in the Health Department and cited examples to prove their point.

The Bhagidari scheme, a pet project of the Chief Minister, Ms. Dikshit, also came under fire from the MLAs. Mr. Mahabal Mishra raised the issue in the presence of Ms. Dikshit. The Nasirpur MLA said the Bhagidari scheme was aimed at clipping the wings of the MLAs and to show them in poor light. An effort was being made by the officials to pitch the Resident Welfare Associations against the MLAs and create a situation where people turn against them. At the same time, Mr. Mishra said the MLAs should be taken into confidence in this scheme if it has to be a big success. He was backed in this by a large number of MLAs.

The Ministers, it seems, have been ticked off by the sudden charge against them and now they are learnt to turn offensive and beat the MLAs at their own game. It was left to Mr. Arvinder Singh Lovely, Mr. Bhisham Sharma and Mr. Talwinder Marwah, to defend the Ministers. They said there might be some problems but personal allegations of corruption should not be made against Ministers, especially Dr. Walia, whose integrity is well known.

The Chief Minister is learnt to have told the MLAs that she had taken into consideration all the points they raised and would sit down with the Ministers and work out a solution. ``There is no denying that the MLAs have to be given due importance in all administrative and developmental matters. Some mechanism would have to be worked out soon,'' she is understood to have stated.

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