Bureaucrats leaving for better offers in private sector: CM

Mumbai, Jan 31 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has sought to downplay the reported resignation of Maharashtra Housing Area Development Authority CEO T Chandrashekhar, saying bureaucrats leave for better offers in the private sector.

''Many bureaucrats leave for lucrative offers elsewhere, and if somebody is getting a good offer, how can I stop anybody?'' Mr Deshmukh asked while talking to newspersons here today.

Incidentally, Principal Secretary (Industries) V K Jairath, who has also put down his papers, was sitting close to Mr Deshmukh. Referring to Mr Jairath, the Chief Minister said the former has resigned on personal grounds. Mr Deshmukh said he had not spoken to Mr Chandrashekhar yet on his resignation.

Asked if he will try to convince Mr Chandrashekhar to withdraw the resignation, Mr Deshmukh said, ''I will try, but not beyond a certain point.'' In Maharashtra, people get more opportunities and, so, bureaucrats are leaving to join the private sector.

When pointed out that Mumbai Regional Congress Committee president Gurudas Kamat had criticised Mr Chandrashekhar's style of functioning, Mr Deshmukh quipped that in a democracy, this was bound to happen and one must be ready to face such criticism.

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