Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday stoutly defended the government’s decision to suspend Noida (Gautam Budh Nagar) sub-divisional magistrate Durga Sakti Nagpal. Claiming that there was a political conspiracy behind the controversy, he said there was no connection between her drive against the sand mining mafia in Noida and the government’s decision to suspend her.
“My government has already taken stern action against the sand mafia. This incident has no connection with the sand mafia,” he told reporters.
Akhilesh said the government anticipated communal tension due to the demolition of the wall of a mosque under construction in Kadalpur village which was done under Durga’s supervision. “There are some forces that are trying to vitiate the communal atmosphere in UP,” he said.
However, sources say Noida district magistrate Ravikant Singh’s report on the incident states that no force or heavy machinery was used to demolish the wall, and that the villagers had demolished it themselves.
Questioned on this count, Akhilesh said, “Apart from the DM’s report, we also had the local Intelligence report and other inputs about communal tension brewing in the area.”
He also took on the IAS lobby making a hue and cry over the suspension. “Where was the IAS Association during the past five years,” he said referring to the body remaining virtually defunct during the Mayawati regime. He said it was the Samajwadi Party which had revived the UP IAS Association.
In fact, the annual ‘IAS Week’ was not organised during the five years of BSP rule (2007-2012). It was only after the SP government took over last year that the IAS Association organised its ‘IAS Week’ in which Akhilesh Yadav was the chief guest.
“Where were these IAS officers when one of their colleagues died a few years ago and it could not even be established whether it was suicide or murder? We have always respected the democratic tradition. But the processes will be followed,” he said. “The action which has been taken (Durga’s suspension) is correct,” he asserted, indicating there was no room for review.
Meanwhile, sources said the Noida DM’s report to the government on the incidents of Kadalpur village states that Durga was asked to visit Kadalpur, where illegal construction was being done on government land, and settle the matter amicably after the administration learnt of the encroachment.
The residents of the village were asked to either seek permission for the construction of the religious structure from the government, or demolish the illegally constructed parts.
Kadalpur village residents chose to raze the illegal construction on their own, the report states, adding no JCB or any heavy machinery was used to demolish any wall, as the government has suggested.
The report, with inputs from the district police as well as other administrative officers, also says there was no communal tension or the possibility of clashes between the two communities.
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