Amid raging controversy over the suspension of IAS officer Durga Sakthi Nagpal, Union Minister Jitin Prasada today alleged illegal sand mining was going on in Uttar Pradesh in connivance with the ruling party leading to huge losses to the state exchequer.
"Illegal sand mining is being carried out in almost all parts of the state by the sand mafia in closeness with the ruling outfit," the Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Resource Development said here.
Sand mafia was operating in the state without obtaining proper licenses causing "unimaginable" losses to the exchequer, he said.
Referring to the suspension of SDM Nagpal, Prasada said Samajwadi Party government was encouraging corruption and for that it was victimising honest officers.
"The suspension of the SDM has shaken the civil and administrative network in the country," he said.
"The Central government, however, will protect the interest of all honest IAS officers," Prasada said while addressing Congress activists here.
On the demolition of a wall in Gautam Budhh Nagar district, which according to UP government was the reason behind the SDM's suspension, he said, "the alleged incident is being exploited by ruling outfit to appease a particular community to reap political dividends."
28-year-old Nagpal, a 2010 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, was suspended on July 27.
