30 bureaucrats of Cachar lodges complaint against MLA Lakhipur of ‘misbehaviour’, which he denies as baseless

May 25: Civil Service is perhaps the most coveted job not only in our country but also throughout the globe. Apart from the issue of the prestige, the job of a civil servant enables the aspirants to work for the overall implementation of the policies and programmes of the government. The rigorous process through which candidates are selected for the civil service gives testimony to the fact that the best brains of the country gets entry to that profession. Recently, a controversy has erupted involving the bureaucrats employed in Cachar district with the MLA of Lakhipur.

However, recently around 30 bureaucrats of Cachar district wrote to Chief Secretary of Assam, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and Principal Secretary (Personnel) (A), Govt of Assam about an incident wherein they alleged “gross misbehaviour of MLA Lakhipur towards Dr Dipankar Nath, ACS, Circle Officer, Sonai Revenue Circle and Hussain Mohammad Mobin, ALRS, BDO, Sonai. It was alleged that in presence of Ashok Singhal, Guardian Minister, Cachar, they were publicly humiliated. They were accompanying the Guardian Minister along with MLA Katigorah who were reviewing the flood situation. The District President, BJP, Cachar, Ex-MLA, Sonai, the Panchayat representatives along with several party workers and their associates were also present when this ugly incident occurred. The incident was stated to have been taken place on 21 May.

Hon'ble CM Dr. @himantabiswa is committed to take necessary remedial measures to overcome the grim flood situation in Barak Valley.

As per his instructions, took stock of several flood affected areas by boat earlier today.@CMOfficeAssam pic.twitter.com/ZfhgEk10GU

— Ashok Singhal (@TheAshokSinghal) May 21, 2022

In the said memorandum, it was stated, “That, while visiting the designated relief camps at Govindanagar Shivbari High School, the MLA, Lakhipur remarked that BDO of Sonai, Hussain Mohammad Mobin, ALRS should be beaten up in the same manner as he was once manhandled at block office by various party workers on 10 March, 2022. Other Panchayat Representatives further said that the Circle Officer(s) should be punished as they have failed to distribute any relief and went on to quote derogatory unParliamentary words for the entire Government machinery who were working in Sonai and also accused the concerned officers of working at behest of the opposition party and termed the officers as agents of the opposition.”

“This very shameful way of harassment continued further, while visiting the flood prone areas of Kaptanpur and Rupaiball GP under Lakhipur Constituency, Sonal Revenue Circle in a Power-boat. Going further, he personally attacked both the Circle Officers of Sonai Revenue Circle as “Rice Thieves” and said that their bodies shall be infested by maggots. He further, threatened the Circle Officer, Dr. Dipankar Nath, by abusing him, and also, personally attacked him by raising questions on his educational qualification, about how he have earned the Dr initials in front of his name and also hurled abuses and raised his hand as a symbolic gesture for slapping, while he stated the following words “Ek chor marim (I will give you a tight slap). The MLA Lakhlpur did not stop there and went on to insult and abuse the entire ACS fraternity by using derogatory remarks about the ACS service,” stated the memorandum, which was signed by around 30 bureaucrats.

While speaking to an Assamese news channel, Lakhipur MLA Kaushik Rai refuted the allegations. He said, when he accompanied the Guardian Minister in a village at Sonai, people complained that since the last 5 days they were in a flood situation, but have not got any flood relief materials from the administration. “At this I called the Circle Officer Dr Dipankar Nath and asked him normally as to why none from the administration had visited there. Secondly, 3 areas of Binnakandi in my constituency falls under Sonai Circle. When I went to Kaptanpur, people there to complained that inspite of being affected by flood for many days, but have not got any relief. So naturally, I just asked the Circle Officer Dr Dipankar Nath the reason for not providing relief materials to the people of those places.”

“I did not utter any unparliamentary language to any officer as stated in the media. Many journalists were also there who were doing the recording. They also can say that nothing of that sort happened on that day as has been alleged against me. I just wanted to know why relief was not given to the flood affected people even after 4 days of being submerged. I told them to do the needful immediately. There were two to three officers there, but I have never ever spoken ill with 30 officers as it is being now claimed. I share a very good relationship with the officers. I only asked two officers to site reason for the delay. Many people including the Guardian Minister, Cachar District BJP President, former MLA of Sonai were there with me. They could be asked, what I have said. Moreover, I could not understand that if at all such an incident as alleged took place, then by this time it would have spread like wild fire in social media. But infact, nothing of the sort has happened. This proves that all allegations are baseless,” added MLA Lakhipur, Kaushik Rai.