People betrayed as Khemka is shunted out by BJP govt

BJP had used the official’s report on Vadra during elections to target Congress

GN Bureau | April 2, 2015


#BJP   #Ashok Khemka   #Robert Vadra   #Sonia Gandhi   #Haryana  

If he thought that he could breathe easy under the new regime, he felt it wrong. And if the public had hoped to see change in the way governments function, this case is an example that they (governments) don’t.

Haryana’s BJP government has transferred IAS officer Ashok Khemka, who faced persecution under the Congress government for cancelling a land deal of Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra.


Khemka has been shunted out as transport commissioner to archaeology and museums department. This will be his 45th transfer in the 23-year civil services career.

Khemka tweeted his response to the transfer by the party government that had used him while targeting the Congress over Vadra episode. During the Lok Sabha polls and assembly polls in 2014, the BJP had raised the issue of Vadra land deals and alleged victimization of honest officers during the Congress regime.

 


"Tried hard to address corruption and bring reforms in Transport despite severe limitations and entrenched interests. Moment is truly painful," Khemka’s read.


 


The Congress government had charge-sheeted Khemka for "causing damage to Robert Vadra's reputation" and "illegally" cancelling the deal. The BJP government, which had supported Khemka's stand, has not yet acted on his request to cancel the charge-sheet.

 


 

Why was Khemka targeted again?
As transport commissioner, Khemka had ordered district officials to penalise overloaded vehicles. These vehicles are from the mining business. This crackdown was affecting the business and the politicians were made to bend.  Khemka had also declined to issue fitness certificates to over-sized trucks and trailers for carrying automobiles.


Khemka had taken charge of the transport department last year after M L Khattar became chief minister of Haryana's first BJP government.

To make it look like a routine transfers in the administration, the government included his name in the list of nine IAS officers transferred on Wednesday.

 

 

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