Akhilesh Yadav Defends Decision To Suspend Ias Officer Durga Shakti Na

[cherlapalli_jailer]

A cornered chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, with his back to the wall, defended on Thursday the government's decision to suspend Gautam Budh Nagar SDM Durga Sakthi Nagpal. Denying there was any connection between the sand mafia thriving in GB Nagar and the government's decision to place the disputed officer under suspension, an unyielding Akhilesh said, "Action was already being initiated against the sand mafia. This incident has no connection with the sand mafia. Instructions had been issued to crack down on illegal mining."

Passing Nagpal's suspension off as a preemptive measure, Akhilesh also said the government anticipated communal tensios as a result of the act of demolition. He did not, however, comment on the DM's report that says the district administration did not use force to demolish the wall and that the villagers dismantled it themselves.

On Thursday, the combative chief minister also took on the IAS lobby and said the Samajwadi Party was responsible for the revival of the defunct UP IAS association. "Where were these IAS officers when their colleagues died a few years ago and it could not be established whether it was suicide or murder? We helped in the association's revival. We have always maintained that we respect the democratic tradition. But the processes will be followed. Decisions will be taken after the inquiries are competed." Earlier, a delegation of the UP IAS association met the chief secretary seeking a revocation of Nagpal's suspension. On Thursday, however, Akhilesh said the decision against Nagapal was right.

A DM's report to the government on the incidents of Kadalpur village in GB Nagar had said Nagpal was asked to visit Kadalpur village, where illegal construction activities were being carried out on government land, and settle the matter amicably. The report also suggested it was unclear what religious site it was, since the construction had only just begun. Nagpal and other officers were deputed to visit the village after the administration learnt of the encroachment. The residents of the village were then asked to either seek permission for the construction of a religious structure, as per the governing rules, or dismantle the illegally constructed parts. Kadalpur village residents chose to dismantle the illegal construction of their own volition. No JCB or other heavy machinery was ever pressed into service to demolish any wall, as the government has suggested. The report, with inputs from the district police as well as other administrative officers, also says there was no communal tension or the possibility of any clashes between religious communities.

Despite the overwhelming evidence against the government's charges, the chief minister maintained there were other reports, Local intelligence unit reports, apart from the DM's that suggested communal tension was likely to flare in the surrounding region. However, the GB Nagar police had earlier told TOI there was no instance of communal violence recorded in GB Nagar. As such, no entry was made to this effect in the police station's general diary.