Don’t fear CBI, CVC, Khattar tells bureaucrats

Chandigarh, Dec 15 (IANS) Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday asked bureaucrats in the state not to fear the five Cs -- Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), court, Central Vigilance Commission, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and Central Information Commission (CIC) -- if they are taking decisions in the public interest.

"My government will always stand with full force behind all decisions taken in public interest," Khattar told senior bureaucrats of the state who attended the opening session of the three-day "Chintan Shivir" of the Haryana government, which started at the Timber Trail resort near Parwanoo in adjoining Himachal Pradesh.

The meet has been organised under the aegis of the Haryana Administrative Reforms Department for cabinet ministers, officers of the Indian Administrative Services (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Forest Service (IFS) and heads of departments.

Exhorting the bureaucrats to work honestly and dedicatedly while taking decisions in the public interest, Khattar said: "Usually, these five Cs cause fear among the IAS officers and come in the way of discharge of their duties, but I assure you that I would always stand by you in the decisions you take in public interest."

He urged the officers to rise above considerations of caste and region and assist the government in framing such policies so that aspirations of the people could be met.

"An administrative officer should use his power in public interest," Khattar, who became Chief Minister in October 2014 without holding any administrative office prior to that or having any governance experience, said.

"Officers should not take this Chintan Shivir as a part of training. Instead, they should take it as a brainstorming session aimed at framing polices in public interest," he said.

Having completed three years in office, Khattar has been accused by the opposition Congress and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leaders of having no control over his ministers, bureaucrats and officers due to lack of experience and control.

Leader of Opposition Kiran Chaudhary said the Khattar government had no control over the bureaucrats and officers who were running the state the way they wanted.