Beigh asks Mufti to be wary of dream merchants

• Better for govt to last less if it fails people
• Some ministers have become arrogant, abusive

Beigh said some of ministers in the coalition government have become arrogant and abusive.

“I think it is very important that ministers attend their workers and the common people. There is a complaint that some of our ministers have become arrogant. Sometimes they are even abusive. Now, they are in the government because Mufti Sahib put them in government,” he said.

Beigh said Mufti is a chief minister because he has a party, his workers and followers. “If a minister insults Mufti’s workers or disappoints them on an issue which they can deliver, then I think the particular minister is doing a disservice not only to CM but also to the office of the minister. It is also shameful that people tolerate such ministers.”

Without naming any minister, he said CM has to be wary of dream merchants and ‘birbals.’   “You see it is actually the captain who is held responsible for the good and bad game of his team. Sometimes even new comer batsmen have scored centuries. I do not know whether that is the case in the present government. Ultimately, it is the chief minister who has to carry the burden. Does he get the requisite support, not only verbal support, but administrative, political, intellectual, diplomatic support from his colleagues – I don’t know. But the chief minister deserves to get that. The chief minister has to be wary of the dream merchants and birbals”.

Referring to claim of the government of having the liability of Rs 9500 crore from the previous regime, Beigh said, “If the liability was already ascertained then what was the need of an order being issued by the planning department to ascertain the liability.”

“It is a double edged sword .If we say that the previous government left some liabilities, NC can go to the people and say look PDP had always said that we did nothing, now they admit that we spent Rs 9000 crore more funds then received from the central government. They can cite this to their credit”.

He also cast doubts over the first budget of the PDP-BJP government presented by the finance minister Haseeb Drabu, saying one has  to see whether there is a budget which is realistic and for which one has assured himself and chief minister that the funds will be forthcoming.

“I have strong reservations about the words spoken and what the fine print is. I have a sense of what is declared as achievable and what is actually achievable. Because I have some reservations, I think it is not proper for me to talk at length about the budget presented by an ex-colleague, sub-ordinate, friend or whatever you say.”

Asked about his views about the coalition and talks that it would not last long, Beigh said, “I hope it lasts long successfully. But it is better to last less than long, if it is not successful and fails the people.” (KNS)