New Delhi: The Jharkhand government has accused Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan of having a tendency to spread hatred across communities and threaten bureaucrats of the state in a letter to the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Sarma and Chouhan are overseeing Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) election efforts in Jharkhand which will go to polls later this year. The two have made several visits to the state since June even though the election schedule is yet to be announced.
In its letter, dated September 2, the Jharkhand government questioned “false statements” made by a visiting chief minister and asked if they would amount to character assassination of the host state’s government functionaries, including top bureaucrats.
It also mentioned the BJP’s appointment of persons as in-charge of elections in a state where poll schedules have not yet been announced, the Indian Express reported.
The letter, signed by principal secretary Vandana Dadel from the cabinet and vigilance departments, mentioned that while the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is yet to be enforced in the state, Chouhan and Sarma have been designated as the BJP’s state election in-charges since their appointment on June 17. It also noted that they visit the state weekly, putting the entire state machinery on alert to provide Z-plus security for the dignitaries.
“The government of Jharkhand has been discharging its duties and responsibilities in extending all required facilities to Cabinet Minister Shivraj Singh and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma… However, it has been noted that on each occasion of their visits to the state… (they) have indulged in provocative and hostile statements, blatant allegations to the media against the administration of the State of Jharkhand, including activities of top officers such as the DGP, SSPs, SPs… They have been visiting many villages, holding rallies, and their statements and activities have the propensity to foment hatred among different communities, dissuading upright and sincere government and personnel from discharging their rightful duties on account of fear of reprisals in the near future,” the letter read.
The letter also attached screenshots of social media posts by Sarma, Chouhan, and other BJP leaders, alleging that the BJP was trying to “create communal tension”.
“These activities appear to be a deliberate and planned scheme to falsely and wrongfully malign the administrative officials such that when the Model Code of Conduct comes into force, reports based on false charges can be prepared of such officers and sent to the ECI to act against such officers and top bureaucrats of the state. This appears to be a prelude of things to come…There appears to be a long-drawn-out attempt by the BJP to scare the administration and police officers of the State of Jharkhand so that they may not take just and lawful preventive and punitive action, especially when the BJP is trying to create communal disturbance and tension in the area by influencing religious passions and creating communal disturbances,” the letter states.
The letter referred to the previous “removal and debarment” from election duty of former Deoghar Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri by the ECI, who was later called before Lok Sabha’s Privilege Committee. It also highlighted actions taken against Piyush Pandey, Superintendent of Police Deoghar, as well as then DGP Jharkhand M V Rao and Ajit Peter Dung Dung (then SP Deoghar), which, according to the letter, were based on unfounded complaints by Godda MP Nishikant Dubey, the Indian Express report said.
The letter said the “systematic and well-planned attack” on Jharkhand’s bureaucracy and police has led to a “widespread feeling of fear and demoralisation” in the rank and file.
The Jharkhand government requested the ECI to ensure impartiality during inquiries against complaints made to them against the state’s bureaucrats.
“Advise (Chouhan and Sarma) not to allow the misuse of official position and the state official machinery at the expense of the public exchequer for political gain,” the letter to the ECI said.
