The ongoing tug-of-war between the Akhilesh Yadav-led SP Government in UP and the Centre, over the alleged arbitrary suspension of intrepid IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, has led to several district-level officials and their subordinates refusing to heed the Supreme Court directive for taking action against the illegally built places of worship.
Actually, the bureaucracy’s fear stems from the fact that the state government had cited possible communal tensions arising from Durga’s decision to raze a mosque built on encroached land in Gautam Buddh Nagar as the reason for taking action against her.
However, seeing the shabby treatment meted out to Durga, the officials are now having second thoughts on implementing the SC order.
“Why do it now and spoil our career,” is the general refrain of the officials, who spoke to Express on condition of anonymity.
Similarly, the officials are unwilling to take on the sand mining mafia, which enjoys widespread political patronage.
Besides, they have decided not to handle any issue with religious overtones since the SP Government had said that Durga was suspended to ensure continued communal harmony in the state.
“The Durga issue has taught us a lesson and we will not burn our hands,” said a District Magistrate from the Terai region.
Meanwhile, stung by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi’s letter to the Prime Minister seeking his intervention to ensure justice for Durga, the SP on Monday yet again lashed out at the Centre, while further digging in its heels on the issue.
Addressing a gathering on Monday, the CM reiterated that the errant officers would be taken to task for their failings. The issue also came up on the opening day of Parliament’s Monsoon session, with Manmohan Singh promising justice to the IAS officer, which further left the SP bruised. Interestingly, SP national general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav, who had been singing a different tune in the Durga row by advocating her reinstatement, on Monday said UP could indeed send back all the IAS officers and administer the state without them if the Centre persisted with its current attitude. SP spokesman Naresh Agarwal has also taken to blackmailing the Centre on Food Security