Cong demands action against politicised bureaucracy

Lucknow, Aug 31: With Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh expected shortly, the Congress today demanded action against top-ranking bureaucrats and police officials of the state for openly working as 'campaigners' of the ruling Samajwadi Party.

In a letter addressed to Chief Election Commissioner and Union Minister of state for Personnel Suresh Pachauri, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Salman Khurshid lamented that state Chief Secretary Navin Chandra Bajpai attended a party programme to mark the completion of three years of office of Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.

The letter said Mr Bojpai made a speech on the occasion glorifying the Chief Minister and his government. The state government has, however, maintained that it was an official function. The ceremony was organised at the party office.

Mr Khurshid expressed shock at the 'cycle yatra' led by Jaunpur district magistrate (DM) Anurag Yadav to mark the occasion on August 29. Media reports had claimed that the IAS officer also highlighted the achievements of the state government. Cycle incidentally is the election symbol of the SP.

Mr Khurshid also charged the Mulayam Singh government of using the official machinery to fulfill its vested political interests ahead of the Assembly elections. ''Government schemes like distribution of unemployment allowance and Kanya Vidyadhan were taking place under SP banners and were being attended by top police and administrative officials,'' he added.

Demanding action against these officials, the UPCC has also enclosed clippings of news reports and photographs of such officials.

''The elections could be announced shortly...it is important to ensure that the bureaucracy and police remain impartial when the democratic exercise takes place,'' he said.

The letter also asked the CEC to go through the news reports and TV grabs to identify these officials. ''The CEC has the right to seek recordings of these coverages from TV channels,'' a party spokesperson suggested.

UNI