Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday banned inclusion of names of government functionaries on foundation stones and inaugural plaques, hours after a video of a minister threatening a government school principal in Nabha went viral on social media.
The order was issued after the video showing Cabinet Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot threatening with suspension the woman principal of the school, where he had gone to lay a foundation stone, triggered a massive public outcry.
The Minister was apparently upset over his name not being at the top on the inauguration plaque.
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The order stated: “While there was no bar on government functionaries and leaders inaugurating or laying the foundation stone of any building or project, the practice of having their names inscribed on such stones or plaques was being discarded with immediate effect, following explicit orders from the Chief Minister.”
“The Chief Minister has also urged his ministerial and party colleagues to be humble in dealing with any member of the public. We are in this position today because of the people of the State and it is our duty to treat them with full respect and humility at all times,” it said.
“The Chief Minister himself is not excluded from these orders, which are aimed at building a stronger connect between the government and the people by removing the VIP culture barriers,” an official spokesperson said here.
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Earlier, the video showing the Minister scolding Principal Nishi Jalota in front of the media triggered outrage on social media.
“Should I suspend you [Principal] immediately,” Mr. Dharamsot could be heard saying in the video.
When Ms. Jalota pleaded it was not her fault, the Minister said, “Then who is at fault. You are showing me this [plaque]. You do not know who is the chief guest.”
The plaque mentioned the names of two donors, who had provided financial assistance for the construction of the block, before the minister’s name.
However, the Minister, while talking to reporters later, denied threatening the principal.
“I did not say this,” he said, when journalists asked him about the incident. He expressed suspicion of wrongdoing in the spending of money for the construction of the said block.