New Delhi:
Amid a raging controversy over the suspension of IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, Congress President Sonia Gandhi has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying the bureaucrat must not be "unfairly treated".
The young officer was shunted out by the Uttar Pradesh government for ordering the demolition of a wall that was meant to house a mosque. But supporters of the 28-year-old officer, who was the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Gautam Budhha Nagar, say that she was punished for taking on the powerful sand mining mafia in the state.
Practically backing that sentiment, Mrs Gandhi, in her letter, said there "there is widespread concern because officer in the course of possible duty was standing up to vested interests."
(Read letter)The Congress chief's intervention is significant in that it is a seeming indictment of the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party, a crucial ally, whose government in Uttar Pradesh has stoically stuck to its decision of suspending Ms Nagpal, saying her action threatened communal tension.
The party promptly hit back, with senior SP leader Naresh Agarwal saying, "Sonia
ji must write two more letters... one for Ashok Khemka and her son-in-law Robert Vadra." Mr Agarwal was alluding to senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka, who kicked up a political storm last year after he alleged irregularities in land deals involving businessman Robert Vadra, who is Mrs Gandhi's son-in-law. The bureaucrat was transferred by the Congress government in Haryana soon after he ordered the probe - a move which his supporters alleged was part of a witch-hunt.
Ms Nagpal's suspension, which has triggered fierce criticism and demands of her reinstatement, has told the government that she had not endangered communal harmony buy ordering the demolition of the wall. An inquiry report ordered by the district administration has given a clean chit to the IAS officer.