VHP letter issue: UP govt removes Principal Home Secretary

Lucknow, Oct 15: Close on the heels of suspending IAS officer Sarvesh Chandra Mishra in connection with a controversial letter on "reconstruction" of Ram Temple in

, the

-led

government on Tuesday shunted the Principal Home Secretary R M Srivastava for his "failure" to deal with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad ( VHP) issue properly.

The official sources said, "Principal Secretary Home Srivastava has been removed and Anil Kumar Gupta has been posted in his place."

Although no reason was cited for the transfer of Srivastava, it is presumed to be a fallout of the letter controversy.

Yesterday, the UP government had put a ban on the VHP's proposed 'Sankalp Diwas' stir on October 18 to press for a parliamentary legislation on building Ram temple, fearing a communal flare-up on the basis of recommendations of Faizabad district administration.

Principal Secretary (Home) RM Srivastava had to apologise for the "error" and take responsibility for the folly of "junior level" officials.

"There are errors in the letter issued on October 9 by the department for convening the meeting and parts of intelligence input on the VHP sponsored Sankalp Diwas on October 18, which should not have been made public, got mentioned in it," Srivastava had said at a press meet.

RM Srivastava had to apologise for the "error".

"The language used in the letter is not correct," he had said.

The officials said that the decision to ban the VHP "Sankalp Diwas" was taken in view of the recent communal clashes in Muzafaarnagar district of the western Uttar Pradesh.

In August end, the VHP was denied permission to carry out its "84-kosi Yatra" in Ayodhya, covering six districts.

OneIndia News