The Hindu : Front Page : Yellampalli controversy claims surprise victim

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Yellampalli controversy claims surprise victim

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: The transfer of C. V. S. K. Sarma, Principal Secretary, Irrigation, over the Yellampalli project controversy, has evoked strong reaction from the bureaucracy as well political circles. Mr. Sarma headed the department for a record seven years at a stretch.

A news leak from the Chief Minister's Office on Monday sought to convey the impression that Mr. Sarma was being replaced for his `inconsistencies' in drafting the complaint lodged with the Director-General of Police against TDP MLAs for allegedly producing forged documents in the Yellampalli issue. Hurt feelings

Hurt by the decision, Mr. Sarma kept himself unavailable on Tuesday morning to the media as well some political leaders who tried to commiserate with him. Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy personally conveyed the decision to him around 6 p.m. on Monday after a meeting with Speaker K. R. Suresh Reddy who was annoyed at the attempt to drag Assembly proceedings into court.

The case against Mr. Sarma is that the complaint "he drafted" was in violation of privileges of MLAs and would have created a confrontation between the legislature and executive. Even the second and "corrected" complaint had incorrect information.

IAS officers unhappy

Equally dismayed were some senior IAS officers who felt that Mr. Sarma was being made a scapegoat. They felt that no officer would complain on his own against the MLAs to the police in such issues. It was clear that he was under pressure from his political masters and the CMO to lodge the complaint, they said.

A retired Chief Secretary also expressed disappointment when some IAS officers belonging to the State cadre contacted him. They pointed out Mr. Sarma's contribution to the `Jala Yagnam', recalling his spirited defence of the programme.

Some senior Congress MLAs, who declined to be identified, saw this as a possible setback to the Jala Yagnam for which the government has earmarked Rs. 10,000 crores this year "as officials may think twice before implementing orders of this nature. The transfer also is tantamount to admitting that the Government has erred in booking cases".

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