Congress Calls for Action Against Noida DM Over Inappropriate Post on Rahul Gandhi

The Congress party on Friday criticised a social media post from the official X handle of the Gautam Budh Nagar district magistrate, which targeted Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. They demanded action against the officer responsible for the comment.

Later, a statement appeared on District Magistrate Manish Verma's X handle, claiming that anti-social elements had misused his ID card to post the inappropriate comment. The statement mentioned that legal action was being taken, with an FIR registered and the cyber cell investigating the matter. A copy of the FIR was also shared on the handle.

Congress Demands Accountability

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh expressed his discontent on X, stating that the comment from the Gautam Budh Nagar district magistrate's handle was entirely inappropriate. He highlighted that India's bureaucracy has become increasingly politicised over the past decade.

Ramesh emphasised that there is a concerted effort to undermine the civil service, which Sardar Patel once referred to as India's steel frame. He called for immediate action against the officer who violated established rules and norms.

Response from Congress Leaders

Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate shared a clip of her conversation with a historian on X, where she remarked that history cannot be changed and Narendra Modi is concerned about how he will be remembered. In response, a now-deleted post from the Gautam Budh Nagar district magistrate's handle in Hindi said, "You should think about yourself and your Pappu."

Shrinate later posted a screenshot of the deleted comment, criticising the district magistrate's language and thoughts about Rahul Gandhi. She accused the administrative staff of being influenced by Sanghis and spreading hatred while holding constitutional positions.

Political Reactions

Pawan Khera, head of Congress media and publicity department, questioned whether IAS officers were now instructed to make political comments under BJP rule. He tagged @myogiadityanath and @HMOIndia in his post. The controversial post originated from an unverified handle claiming to be the official account of the Gautam Budh Nagar district magistrate.

This incident highlights ongoing concerns about political interference in India's bureaucracy. The Congress party's demand for accountability reflects broader worries about maintaining impartiality within civil services.