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| Housing Ministry shields officials who skipped Modi rally | | |
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Nov 10: Officials of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) had embarrassed the Government by staying away from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Srinagar on November 7. But instead of taking action against them, senior BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh has allegedly come to the rescue of erring officials "to please a PDP Minister."
Insiders said Singh, who also heads the Housing Ministry, has not sought any disciplinary action against the erring SMC officials following the intervention of the PDP Minister.
Sources in Civil Secretariat said the Commissioner Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Department has been asked to "silently give impunity to the erring officials." Sources said it has been conveyed to the Commissioner Secretaries of the Housing and the General Administration Department not to seek any explanation from the erring officials, who actually didn't bother to attend Modi's rally when the entire State administration was on toes.
Sources said the PDP Minister played the Diwali festival card before Nirmal Singh. "He (PDP Minister) conveyed to the Deputy CM that if he remains silent on the misconduct of his officials for a few days, people will automatically forget it after Diwali celebrations which will continue till weekend," said an official claiming to be privy to the issue.
The intelligence agencies had updated the Central Government about the "rebellious attitude" of the SMC officials and recommended that strict action be taken against the accused or else it would set a bad precedence.
"But despite this all, the erring officials have been exonerated by the Deputy CM only to keep his Cabinet colleague from PDP in good humor," said sources.
They said the PDP Minister had vowed to save the officials who are said to be loyal to him. "In fact he has conveyed to them (erring officials) to relax and need not worry," said an SMC official pleading anonymity. "Though on Monday, when newspapers highlighted the issue, they (erring officials) were a bit tense and held a close door meeting, but after assurance from the Minister they are relaxed now," he added.
The PDP Minister in question is accused of patronizing a mafia of illegal constructions in Srinagar. "Those who have his blessings are allowed constructions without any legal permission," sources said.
The PDP Minister, as per sources, has been prevailing over the Housing Ministry led by Nirmal Singh in all the issues pertaining to Srinagar. "In fact he has been given a freehand by the Housing Minister," said a senior official in the Civil Secretariat.
The PDP Minister is also understood to have told Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Dr Asgar Samoon not to "make a mountain out of the molehill."
As already revealed by Early Times, in brazen violation of official protocol of ensuring their presence at the PM's rally, the SMC top brass including its Commissioner, Joint Commissioners, Chief Enforcement Officer and the Chief Sanitation Officer were absent from the venue. Sources said Governor NN Vohra has also been informed about the misconduct of the erring officials.
Meanwhile, despite repeated attempts, Nirmal Singh could not be contacted for his comments. |
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