LUCKNOW: The corridors of power in Lucknow are abuzz with the notion that the BJP ministers were reporting to RSS bosses instead of CM Yogi Adityanath. The perception has found its genesis in a letter, purportedly written by UP's basic education minister Anupama Jaiswal to an RSS functionary, doing rounds on social media.
The photo of letter (no. 5/2017/(1251/17)/9/5/35-A-2/2007-69) which has been written on the letterhead of the minister and addressed to a senior RSS functionary has provided ammo to opposition parties to target Yogi government. They claimed that the letter was a testimony to kind of control RSS was wielding on the operations and functioning of state government.
Notably, the letter, dated October 9, and addressed to 'Sah Karyavah', contained details of minister's visit to Deoria on September 27, where she held a meeting with department officials and asked them to implement the government's schemes on priority and ensure speedy execution of developmental programmes in the district. In fact, the letter is duly signed by the minister herself on October 1. The letter also mentions that a copy of minutes of the meetings in Deoria was attached along with.
Jaiswal is the minister in-charge of Deoria district. However, the minister feigned ignorance claiming that she did not have any such correspondence with anyone. The letter has surfaced and creating flutter at a time when speculations of a cabinet reshuffle in UP are rife following BJP chief Amit Shah's visit to Lucknow on Wednesday.
"Reshuffle of Yogi cabinet may take place any time in near future and ministers have been asked by the party chief Amit Shah to produce their report card by October 29," said a senior BJP leader adding that in view of the possible rejig, the ministers were busy scoring brownie points here and there. Sources in the party said that some ministers sent updates of their work to RSS leaders who kept a close eye on the functioning of the government and kept top BJP brass apprised of it.
Meanwhile, reacting to the letter, UP Congress chief Raj Babbar said it was clear that the BJP ministers were reporting to their RSS bosses. "It is quite evident that RSS has a tight grip on governance in UP," he said.