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Bureaucrats presence at SP function raises objections

Special Correspondent

Organised to mark the completion of three years of Mulayam Govt

LUCKNOW: The presence of senior bureaucrats at the function held in the Samajwadi Party office to mark the completion of three years of the Mulayam Singh Yadav government figured in the Vidhan Sabha on Thursday. The function was held on Tuesday.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Congress Legislature Party leader Pramod Tewari said the presence of some officers at a function at the office of a political party violated the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968 and the code of conduct. Quoting from the rules, he said government servants cannot participate in meetings convened by political parties. "They must abstain from participating in political movements, and neither can they express sympathy with it".

Mr. Tewari said a wrong convention was being set.

The CLP leader was joined by Leader of Opposition Lalji Tandon, who said the presence of bureaucrats at the political function was a serious issue. He said if the bureaucracy becomes subservient to the political party the officers would cease to function independently. Mr Tandon pressed for a debate on the issue.

Pressing for admissibility of the motion, Jadgambika Pal of the Congress said it amounted to politicisation of the bureaucracy. He reminded the House that some years ago the present Chief Minister was confronted with 150 cases filed by officers who were close to the previous regime. Mr Pal pleaded that the officers should remain impartial.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mohammed Azam Khan denied that the cases against the Chief Minister were filed by the officers. He said the cases were the outcome of political vendetta launched by the previous regime. "The Chief Minister has virtually forgotten the episode and neither have officials been held accountable for it."

The Congress notice was rejected by the Speaker, Mata Prasad Pandey.

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