JAIPUR: In Rajasthan, ministers in the Vasundhara government are raking up more and more embarrassment over transfer of government employees in the state.
In the latest episode, the Health Minister, Kalicharan Saraf was caught on camera saying that only those who have "approach" are given priority while those without "approach" are removed while making transfer lists.
This shocking statement comes just days after a scuffle between two ministers of the Raje Government over the issue of transfer of teachers - the two ministers involved in the incident were minister of state for education Vasudev Devnani and minister of state for health Banshidhar Bajiya.
Health Minister Saraf's controversial remarks were made on Monday in Bharatpur where he had gone to inaugurate the Annapurna Milk Scheme. He made the strange comments at a public hearing just before the inauguration of the milk scheme.
Hundreds of government employees were handing over transfer requests to Saraf. In speaking to one such employee, Saraf turned down his transfer application saying that when final decisions are made to prepare the transfer list, employees who have no approach are removed as they are considered weaklings.
Once the video clips of his controversial statement became public, Minister Saraf tried to downplay the issue.
"It was said in a light-hearted way it was not meant seriously . I was trying to explain to the applicant that he should had put a desire from his local MLA first."
However, the state Congress President Sachin Pilot says the minister's deplorable comments reflect how corruption is rampant in the transfer of employees under the Vasundhara government.
"Transfers have now become a full-fledged industry to make money in Rajasthan. As the minister has openly admitted, those who do not have approach or are unable to shell out money are being transferred. In contrast, those who have such resources or are friends and relatives of BJP leaders are getting choice postings and transfers. Ordinary people who deserve transfers are being ignored."
Transfer of government employees, especially teachers, in Rajasthan has been a sensitive issue for years but despite repeated demands the government has not evolved any Transfer Policy.
Inevitably, allegations of political interference and corruption crop up from time to time in transfer season.
After two ministers battled it out openly over transfers and now the state's Health Minister himself exposing the filth in government transfers, this ticklish issue has become the hot topic of debate in Rajasthan where elections are just around the corner.