Sunglasses & Dress code row: Bastar DM now has a Facebook Fans Club page!

Bastar, May 17: Two days after the controversy ensued over the dress code of Bastar DM, while welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the former defended himself saying, saying can't wear bandhgala at 40° C.

According to TOI report, the IAS officer Amit Kataria took to the social media by posting, " a formal suit or a 'bandhgala' at sweltering 40 degrees was impractical." [Bastar DM issued govt notice for wearing sunglasses while welcoming PM Narendra Modi]

Kataria, who was in the eye of storm, also clarified his stance to the senior IAS and IPS officers.

"Bastar is very hot in May with temperature above 40s. Wearing bandgala for hours, while looking after arrangements, is not practical. I was dressed in complete formal dress, blue shirt, black trousers, black leather shoes", he posted on social networking site.

On not following a formal dress code, Kataria was quoted saying as, " Governor, CM, CS, DGP came from the circuit house properly dressed and received the PM before me. I was standing and managing for them for many hours in the hot sun and was sweating and my eyes were burning. I decided not to wear the coat which I had put in my car."

"I have put 11 years of service and have done three districts, but if I am still naive and foolish, the UPSC and the Academy need to be blamed," he further wrote.

On reports that he was being called 'Dabanng" by PM Modi, a source clarified, "The PM said nothing like 'dabang' or anything. It's purely media creation by some local newspaper. He was very courteous and only said hello."

Kataria's act of not wearing formal dress and sporting sunglasses drew criticism as well as support from his colleagues.

Meanwhile, the controversy earned lot of admirers for the young Bastrar DM. His admirers has launched a Facebook page dedictaed to him, as "AMIT Kataria FANS CLUB."

On Friday, May 15, the Chhattisgarh government had issued him a notice saying for wearing sunglasses while welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit on Saturday, May 9.

The notice issued to him states that, "The act ( wearing sunglasses) is in violation of the Section 3 (1) of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968."

OneIndia News