Government forced IPS officer to proceed on leave belying claims of women empowerment: BJP

The BJP on Friday alleged that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had weakened the administrative structure of the state by demoralising ministers and officers, who were now engaged in factional politics.

BJP state spokesperson Trilok Kapoor, while addressing mediapersons here, said that the manner in which woman IPS officer Ilma Afroz was forced to proceed on leave under political pressure, followed by a privilege motion against her in the Assembly, stood in sharp contrast to the Congress government’s claims of women empowerment. He added that an attempt was later made to intimidate Secretariat employees by initiating privilege proceedings against them.

Kapoor alleged that the tenure of the present Congress government had been marked by administrative disorder, abuse of authority and growing arrogance among ministers, which had caused serious damage to the dignity of “Dev Bhoomi” Himachal. He said that under the current regime, every section of society, particularly honest and hardworking officers, were feeling insecure and harassed. “A series of developments clearly indicate that the Chief Minister has lost control over the administration,” he added.

The BJP spokesperson said that the situation took a tragic turn when Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd Chief Engineer Vimal Negi died by suicide allegedly due to extreme pressure and harassment. “This incident reflects the insensitivity and hostile work environment prevailing in the state administration,” he added.

Kapoor alleged that the relations between ministers, MLAs and the bureaucracy had deteriorated. He claimed that Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh and Sports Minister Yadvinder Goma were engaged in an open confrontation with officers, resulting in an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. “Such incidents expose the failure of governance and the Chief Minister’s inability to maintain administrative discipline,” he added.

He said that the privilege motion moved by MLA Yadvinder Goma against Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apurv Devgan once again highlighted the growing rift within the Congress government and the state bureaucracy. “By exerting pressure on both ministers and officers, the Chief Minister has pushed the state towards administrative chaos and governance paralysis,” he alleged.

Kapoor said that the people of Himachal were suffering due to stalled development, rising crime, and administrative uncertainty.