The media coverage of the arbitrary suspension of young IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, for allegedly taking on the might of the sand mining mafia, came in for severe criticism from the state’s SP Government on Tuesday, with Health Minister Ahmed Hassan urging journalists not to go overboard on the issue. “(The)media should not project her. What is more painful (is the fact) that the media is playing into the hands of the communal forces and running a campaign against us. There are certain people in the media, who have vested interests, indulging in money-making and putting pressure on the government. I will not name (them), but there are black sheep in the media, campaigning against the Akhilesh Yadav Government.”
“We are facing this crisis, but will soon overcome the situation .The state government will not give into the blackmailing tactics .The media has deliberately failed to highlight how the mosque was demolished by that lady and no picture of the demolished mosque has appeared in newspapers and channels. I am ashamed to say this. Please do some introspection and support the government,“ he said at a function here, which was also attended by the CM.
According to Hassan, “for us, the mosque is above everything. Its destruction cannot be ignored. Sentiments of the people are involved . How can an ignorant lady IAS officer (Durga)destroy the mosque. And she should apologise for the brazen act”. “I feel very sad at the manner in which the mosque had been demolished by the woman. I am not able to control my emotions. She should be punished stringently for hurting the sentiments of the people.
Whether it is an official or the government, the sentiments of the people cannot be neglected,” Hassan added. Furthermore, the minister said the IAS officer’s actions had discredited the entire bureaucracy and could not be tolerated.Hassan also said that he was shocked to learn that Durga’s popularity on the internet had surpassed even that of Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachhan. Interestingly, the Health Minister’s tirade took place in the presence of state ministers, bureaucrats and party functionaries, with Akhilesh beaming at his colleague’s remarks.
The Chief Minister too flayed the media but in a veiled manner.