Voicing concern over the suspension of IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, who had clamped down on illegal mining in Uttar Pradesh, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi today blamed politicians for obstructing the work of honest officers.
"The message is that politicians obstruct officers who work against corruption. The message is clear, and this has been exposed," Bedi told reporters here when asked about the controversial suspension order.
Expressing happiness that other IAS officers and the rest of the society have condemned it and supported Nagpal, she said the lady was fighting corruption and her suspension gives a wrong message.
"At least the one good thing is the whole association has gone to the chief minister to question it. Let us see whether they understand the situation," said the first woman IPS officer of the country.
A 2009-batch IAS officer posted as Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Gautam Budh Nagar in September last year, 28-year-old Durga Shakti Nagpal, who had taken on the powerful sand mafia in Uttar Pradesh, was suspended barely 10 months after she got her first posting in the state.
Nagpal had led a crackdown on unauthorised mining in the district and got over two dozen FIRs registered against those involved in illegally removing sand.
The Uttar Pradesh IAS association has already demanded reversal of Nagpal's suspension.She also blamed Nagpal's senior IAS officer who signed her suspension order.
"He could have gone to the chief minister and said that the order is wrong and I won't sign it. Politicians can't sign it. He should have taken up the cause before signing the order," said Bedi.
When asked whether this suspension is a discouragement to other honest officers, Bedi said IAS and IPS officers have no reason to be insecure.
"Politicians are insecure because they have to seek vote after every five years. But IAS job will remain. At the best, they can transfer," she said.
