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Mayawati suspends magistrate for ‘coerced’ family planning

Special Correspondent

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Tuesday suspended the District Magistrate of Gorakhpur Rakesh Kumar Goel for allegedly forcing members of the minority community to adopt family planning measures before applying for arms licences.

Ms. Mayawati has ordered an inquiry into the matter.

The action followed the insistence by Mr. Goel on family planning measures for two members of the minority community when they applied for licences.

Taking a strong view of Mr. Goel’s arbitrary action, Ms. Mayawati said in a statement that the family welfare programme was voluntary. People had a right to apply for gun licences for security purposes. Adoption of family planning programme for getting arms licence did not figure in the policies of the Bahujan Samaj Party Government, she said.

She charged Mr. Goel with dereliction of duty saying that his action amounted to misleading and pressuring the minority community, and contravened Government directives.

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