Since after Haryana state government has announced the e-tendering for execution of development works in rural areas in the state, Sarpanches across the state have started protests against the e-tendering. The impact of protest has been observed severe in few districts including Kaithal, Bhiwani, Rohtak, Jind, Charkhi Dadri and Hisar where large number of clashed between protestors and police has been reported when protesting Sarpanches had blocked traffic on roads, warned against the entry of ministers, MLAs and Bureaucrats in the villages. A scuffle took place between protestors and police in Rohtak when protestors attempted to lock the office of Block Development & Panchayat Officer. Police force dragged Sarpanches, arrested and put nearly 50 protestors in the bus, however later they were released at a distant, deserted place after few hours. In the scuffle, a Sarpanch also sustained minor injuries and he was taken to hospital.
A former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state leader Naveen Jaihind was alleged extending support to the agitating Sarpanches in Rohtak threatening to show black flags to Home Minister Amit Shah was to attend Gohana rally on January 29, however his visit to attend rally was postponed. Protesting Sarpanches blame action by the government is insulting them and misbehaving the elected representatives. They alleged the government introduced e-tendering process because the contractors offer commission to the concerned government officers as well as political people in the government and use poor quality material for developmental work.
Defending the e-tendering process, Haryana Development and Panchayat Minister, Devender Babli while talking to media persons said, e-tendering system has been introduced by the state government after the recent Panchayat election in public interest. He added that these people are protesting only for their self-vested interest that is why they spend huge amount of money during Panchayat polls and when elected treat it a license to earn money, whereas state government is working on the basis of zero tolerance basis and e-tendering system has been introduce to finish corruption as well as misuse of funds and also bring transparency in work not only in case of Sarpanches but in all government procurements in the state. Babli made an appeal to protestors not to play politics and indulge themselves for the welfare of people elected them.
Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar while talking to media persons said that in order to stop corruption and bring transparency in development works in the state Haryana government has started e-tendering system in all government sectors. Chief Minister said that e-tendering introduced in the state has brought good results to stop corruption since there are nearly 300 cases of complaints as regard procurements in which purchases were made from the contractors and suppliers through fake bills without receipt of material. He said that stern action has been taken against large number of corrupt government employees including senior officers in the state, some of them also lodged in jails and investigation by State Vigilance Bureau going on against many more.
Khattar said, Sarpanches in Haryana are opposing the e-tendering system to carry out development works in villages, claiming it has curtailed their powers but it is not as such, the work which used to be done manually earlier will now be done through a software, moreover the development works which used to remain pending for long time will be done in a time bound ways ensuring the quality of work assuring that power of Sarpanches has not been curtailed by the government, on the contrary the government has given public representatives more power. He requested all Sarpanches to perform their duties with responsibility and cooperate with the government.
