Raman Singh publicly pulls up officials in presence of CG CM

Raipur: An event organised under Chhattisgarh’s Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana in Bemetara on Sunday left the local administration red-faced after assembly speaker and former chief minister Raman Singh publicly reprimanded officials over alleged mismanagement in the presence of the incumbent, Vishnu Deo Sai, and several cabinet ministers.The programme, which included a mass wedding ceremony along with inauguration and foundation-laying events, was disrupted by heavy rain and strong winds, triggering chaos at the venue and eventually forcing cancellation of the majority of scheduled events.A video from the event went viral on social media showing Raman Singh expressing displeasure at the arrangements. In the clip, the former CM was seen questioning district officials over the lack of preparedness despite the presence of the state’s top political leadership.According to sources, CM Sai, his deputy Arun Sao and several ministers had reached Bemetara to attend the function when sudden weather changes threw the scheduled events into disarray. The “aashirwad samaroh”, inauguration and bhoomipujan programmes had to be called off midway as rain and storm battered the venue.Following the cancellation, a brief programme was later organised at the rest house where Raman Singh openly criticised the administration’s handling of the event.

He told the collector and SP that the arrangements for reception, security and movement of the CM and ministers reflected “administrative negligence”.“This is not the right way. The chief minister is here and even his ceremonial welcome is being managed through backdoor arrangements. It reflects administrative laxity,” Singh was heard telling officials in the video.The speaker also questioned why no alternative venue was arranged despite worsening weather conditions.

He remarked that even after waiting for nearly two-and-a-half hours, officials failed to put in place any workable contingency plan.Invoking his own chief ministerial tenure, Singh said he had “never witnessed such disorder” during his 15 years in office. “Maybe they will learn now. Had this incident not happened, perhaps they would never have learnt,” he said.The incident, meanwhile, set off frenzied chatter in bureaucratic circles, as the public reprimand came in the presence of the entire top leadership of the state govt.