How Akhilesh used communal card to suspend IAS officer Durga Nagpal

Lucknow: Durga Shakti Nagpal, the feisty, young officer, was used to veiled threats from the quarrying mafia in western Uttar Pradesh, but what she had not bargained on while taking them on, was punitive action from the government against her. Surely, she had stepped on big toes.

After ordering her suspension, the government justified the action citing that Nagpal’s actions could have caused communal tensions. However, not many in the state are ready to buy it.

The demolition of a mosque boundary wall, political observers here believe, is an alibi for the government to shift the 2009 batch IAS officer.

“She had been suspended because she ordered the demolition of a religious place (read mosque), especially in the month of Ramzan. This is a sensitive issue and could have caused communal tension,” said Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Incidentally, the demolition of the wall under the supervision of Nagpal was part of an anti-encroachment drive and, as per local authorities, there was no adverse reaction to it from the locals, let alone any communal tension.

“The demolition was done following the Supreme Court order which restricts the construction of any religious structure without the permission of the local administration”, Nagpal had told the local media.

Reports from various quarters confirm that the suspension was the result of her aggressive approach to curb the sand mafia active in the western UP.

After being posted at Gautam Buddha Nagar – her first posting - she had launched an extensive drive against the illegal quarrying of sand and soil, which is rampant on the Yamuna and Hindon river beds. Every day, contractors dig tonnes of sand and mud worth lakhs of rupees without legal sanction. The loss from these activities to the revenue department is huge.

A month ago, she had got cases registered against more than 20 people involved in illegal quarrying and over 10 had been arrested in less than a fortnight. She also ensured about two dozen JCB machines involved in illegal quarrying were seized. She had also threatened that there would be no let-up in the fight against unauthorized dredgers.

“The entire district has been affected and illegal mining has become a huge problem. The stakes are too high and those involved get huge monetary returns. The act could lead to serious environmental issues and, therefore, needs to be stopped,” a PTI report quoted her saying.

The contractors are known for their alliances with and affinities to the high and mighty of the ruling parties, irrespective of who was in power.

Bundelkhand was the hub of quarrying activities during the rule of the Bahujan Samaj Party. The contractors were active in the area under the patronage of ministers like Badshah Singh and Babu Singh Kushwaha. Under the Samajwadi Party, western UP has become the hub of quarrying.

Sources close to the government claim that a large chunk of the quarrying activities in the region is controlled by one Narendra Bhati, who is known to be close to the ruling party. He had suffered most due to the arrests and seizures made by Nagpal.

“The government is giving a lame excuse for Nagpal’s suspension. The reality is that the government is trying to save the mafia and it had been waiting for some excuse to shift the officer from the site,” said LK Bajpai, the state president BJP.

“If maintaining communal harmony is the reason for the suspension then why has the government not suspended all those senior officials who failed to check the series of riots that has taken place in the state since the SP government came to power,” he added.

The suspension came suddenly. No report was sought from the district magistrate or the commissioner in this regard and no call was made to the SDM before the suspension order was served.

“This is the way the SP government functions. The person who tries to confront the mafia and criminals is either transferred or suspended,” said SC Mishra, BSP general secretary.

Akhilesh does not seem to have much of a defense.

“My government is criticised if no action is taken and when we take an action against the erring officers even then we face criticism,” he said.

Political observers feel, the ruling party is twisting the real issue to give it a communal colour.