SHILLONG: The state government on Wednesday refuted the allegations of the opposition that an officer in Jowai was shifted after a minister threatened him with “necessary action” and blamed the Congress for politicising the issue of transfers of bureaucrats.
Talking to media persons here on Wednesday, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said transfer is a “normal process” followed by the government.
The opposition had on Tuesday accused an MLA from West Jaintia Hills and his brother of scolding, rebuking and threatening Additional Deputy Commissioner Sammy Laloo before transferring him to Ampati overnight because he did not “give into their request for favours”.
Reacting to this, the chief minister said the transfer of this officer too was part of the routine procedure and “everything is being done to ensure that there is proper governance”.
“This is part of the exercise that is done regularly. They (opposition leaders) are unnecessary trying to politicise this issue. This was done during their time too,” he added as he denied there were allegations of misbehaviour.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said if officers have grievances or they are being ill-treated, they should file FIR. “Will anyone keep quiet if he is being abused or beaten up,” he added.
When pointed out that officers cannot take on political masters, Tynsong asserted that they are not slaves. “The law is there when something goes beyond the limit.”
Tynsong also ruled out an inquiry into the matter saying the government cannot start a probe based on a newspaper report. “We cannot proceed with the inquiry unless we receive an official complaint,” he added.
The chief minister, on the other hand, asked the opposition to allow the government to do its work.
Leader of the opposition Mukul Sangma had recently written to the chief minister on “haphazard transfers”. To this, the latter said, “My reply is very simple. This is a normal process done in the interest of the public and in the interest of the government.”
When reporters asked Tynsong about exodus of IAS officers in the last six months, he said, “The opposition Congress should name as to how many of them left the state during the regime of the present government and how many during the previous Congress-led government.”
Maintaining that IAS officers are leaving for Delhi on usual deputation, the deputy chief minister taunted the Congress saying it was the job of the opposition to rake controversy against the government.
