New Delhi, Aug. 3 (ANI): Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat on Saturday criticized the Samajwadi Party (SP) Government for using the threat of communal tension as a shield while suspending Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Durga Shakti Nagpal for taking action against the sand mafia which is operating in the area.
"Where are the communal politics in this case? Nobody there has complained except people who were having links with the sand mafia. In the name of preventing a so-called communal incident from happening, what was really happening was a defense being set up to save the sand mafia. That is what's so objectionable," Karat said here on Saturday.
"In this case it's one where you have a young woman officer who has taken a very strong stand against the sand mafia who have many patrons working in many political parties of that area. It is that that has upset them, and they thought she was a vulnerable target because she is a young woman," Karat added.
Reiterating her stand that the suspension was unfortunate and one that sent a wrong message to other aspiring female IAS officers, Karat said Samajwadi Party Minister Narendra Bhati's statement that bragged about getting Nagpal suspended in 41 minutes raised new questions about the reasoning of the order.
"His statement raises questions on how his leaders have taken this decision. So if his statement is completely untrue, and they have not taken the decision on the basis of his 41 minutes' time deadline, well they should take action against him. Are they going to do that?" Karat asked.
The 28-year-old Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Gautam Buddh Nagar reached out to the state government yesterday to proclaim her innocence.
The Allahabad High Court yesterday adjourned the hearing on a PIL filed in connection with the IAS officer's suspension by the Uttar Pradesh Government.
The High Court also sought a response from the state government and the Centre in connection with this case.
The case will now come up for hearing on August 19.
The clamour for reinstating Nagpal grew louder on Thursday with representatives of the Central IAS officers' Association meeting Minister of State in PMO V. Narayanasamy to demand justice for her.
Nagpal was suspended last month ostensibly for taking on the sand mafia and for ordering the demolition of a wall of a mosque that was being built on government land in the state's Gautam Buddh Nagar District, where she was posted as Sub-Divisional Magistrate.
According to reports, the 2009-batch IAS officer had seized nearly 300 trolleys of sand being illegally mined from the Yamuna river bed.
Though the Uttar Pradesh Government has called it an 'administrative decision', against her for demolishing a wall which was part of an intended mosque, but many believe that it was the result of pressure from the mining mafia.
Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh Government said removing Nagpal was an "administrative decision" as her decision to demolish the mosque could trigger communal tension, especially since it came during the month of Ramzan.
Defending his government's action, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has said the bureaucrat ordered the demolition of a portion of the mosque which might have resulted in disturbing peace in the state.
"You should inquire from the people of that village. The Muslim families collected donation for building a mosque, a wall was built, and you took the decision without holding any consultation and spoilt the environment there," he said.
Yadav said there was no matter of mining for which the action was taken.
"The government will act against all those who act against goodwill and brotherhood or try to spoil the environment by of their work," he added, while rubbishing reports that the government acted tough only because it was a matter of illegal mining.
"If you look at the record of last two to three months then you will come to know that truck and machines were caught. We are also desirous that illegal mining should not take place," he added. (ANI)
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