Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira may be a political opponent of the Aam Aadmi Party, but that does not make every question he raises illegitimate. An elected MLA has a democratic responsibility to question the government, particularly when the questions concern public property, government residences, public expenditure and the role of political functionaries in Punjab. Khaira has recently raised questions about the use of government accommodation and the alleged involvement of AAP leaders in Punjab’s administrative affairs.
The important issue is therefore not whether the questions are politically uncomfortable for the government. The real issue is whether the government can provide documentary answers. Who is officially allotted each government residence? Who is actually occupying it? Under what authority is anyone staying there? Who pays the electricity, water, maintenance and other expenses? If everything is according to the rules, the government should simply place the relevant records before the public.
Khaira has also questioned the role of senior AAP leaders from outside Punjab in the functioning of the Punjab government. Whether one agrees with his political position or not, the public has a legitimate interest in knowing who has official authority, who has political responsibility and who is using government resources. These questions should be settled through records and transparency rather than personal exchanges.
There is also a larger democratic principle involved. An MLA should be able to question the government without every question being converted into a personal confrontation. At the same time, politicians have a responsibility to ensure that serious allegations are supported by evidence and that personal character allegations are avoided unless firmly established. The best response to a disputed allegation is not abusive language it is documents, rules and facts.
Khaira has previously raised questions on government expenditure and the functioning of Punjab’s RTI system, including his recent claims regarding expenditure on a school function in Amritsar. Those claims, too, should be judged against the underlying official documents and records rather than simply dismissed because they come from an opposition MLA.
Punjab needs a culture in which questions are answered and records are opened to public scrutiny. If Khaira’s allegations are incorrect, the government has a straightforward opportunity to prove that with official documents. If there are irregularities, the appropriate authorities should investigate them.
The people of Punjab should not be asked to choose between political personalities. They should be given the facts.An elected MLA asking questions is not the problem. The real question is whether the government is prepared to answer those questions transparently.