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At a time when the Samajwadi Party (SP)’s support is absolutely crucial for the government in passing legislation in the monsoon session of Parliament, Congress President Sonia Gandhi has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, asking him to take steps to ensure Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer Durga Shakti Nagpal is not victimised unfairly and gets protection.
On Saturday, the chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) — of which the Samajwadi Party is also a constituent — wrote to the Prime Minister to intervene and make sure the IAS officer is "not unfairly treated."
"As has been reported in newspapers, there is a widespread concern because an officer in course of possible duty was seen to be standing up to vested interests," the letter said.
"We must ensure that the officer is not unfairly treated. This incident has highlighted the need to assess, whether there are adequate safeguards in place to protect executive functionaries, working beyond the average call of duty to uphold law," it said.
"The implementation machinery feels that whether conditions are conducive for delivery of public service for fear or favour. Some good beginnings have been made towards administrative reforms but the issues that have come to be profiled in Durga Shakti Nagpal's case also need focus," said the letter. Gandhi's letter follows an IAS officers’ association urging the minister of state in the Prime Minister’s Office, V Narayanasamy, to look into the issue.
Though Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said there was no link between the SDM's suspension and her action against sand mafia, opposition parties and media reports have said the two issues are linked. Nagpal was suspended for allegedly overseeing the demolition of an under-construction mosque's wall in a village, saying her act had stoked communal tension.
This is likely to be another issue that the Opposition will raise in the monsoon session of Parliament beginning next week.
It will put a lot of pressure on the generally cordial ties between the SP and the Congress, despite overt hostility.
THE LETTER SAYS:
- There is a widespread concern because an IAS officer, who in course of duty, was seen to be standing up to vested interests
- It must be ensured that she is not unfairly treated
- This incident has highlighted the need to assess whether there are adequate safeguards in place to protect executive functionaries, working beyond the average call of duty, to uphold law
