Gupta reverses Kalyan decision

The decision to appoint Rai as the chairperson of the commission, with cabinet rank, was one among the many taken by Kalyan Singh before he resigned. Rai, known to have enjoyed much clout during Singh’s regime, threatened to move the court in protest against the decision while the former chief minister described the decision as "vindictive."

Gupta, who chaired the cabinet meeting, however denied that there was any political vendetta behind these decisions. They were taken in the larger interest of the people of the state, he asserted.

The revival of Uptron, a public sector undertaking, dissolution of state women’s commission and reintroduction of entry tax weresome of the significant decisions taken in the state cabinet meeting today.

Kalyan Singh termed the decision to dissolve the commission as an act of “political revenge”. Such an attitude did not befit a chief minister and it had shown Gupta in poor light, he remarked.

Gupta, however, said the decision to dissolve the women’s commission was “necessary” as the government felt it was not serving its purpose.

A lot of hue and cry was raised when Kalyan Singh appointed Rai as the commission chairperson in the last days of his chief ministership.

Rai, known for her close proximity to the former chief minister, said she would challenge the decision in a court of law.

The revival of Uptron is also being seen as a political decision. It may be recalled that Kalyan Singh had openly charged Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee with not fulfilling his assurance about aid for the revival of this sick unit.

Gupta said the cabinet decided to revive Uptron "totally". Officials were asked to prepare a revivalpackage at the earliest, he informed. The Central government may also extend some financial help in this regard. He was evasive on the assured help of Rs 172 crore sought by the earlier government from the Central government to revive Uptron.