Dilli Ka Babu
Prez preference
Though perhaps not the first time, no IAS official will serve in Rashtrapati Bhavan during President Pranab Mukherjee’s tenure. Most Presidents choose their own loyal and trusted officials. But Pranabda’s chosen three are not from among the heaven-born. It was always known that Omita Paul, his advisor in the finance ministry, would accompany Mr Mukherjee to Raisina Hill as secretary. She happens to be a retired Indian Information Service officer.
Mr Mukherjee’s other two choices are also non-IAS officers. Pradeep Gupta belongs to the Indian Ordnance Factories Service and will be the President’s private secretary. Mr Mukherjee’s choice for press secretary is Venu Rajamony, a 1986 batch Indian Foreign Service officer. Even his social secretary comes from the IFS. Can’t say that the mighty IAS officers’ lobby is pleased with the developments.
Babu-bashing
Babu-bashing is a popular pastime for netas, but it touched new depths when an Andhra Pradesh minister, T.G. Venkatesh, publicly stated that officials who did not perform their duty should be shot. The expected uproar followed and seething babus took up the matter with chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy. A delegation of the IAS Officers’ Association led by its president Prashant Mahapatra and secretary J. Raymond Peter met Mr Reddy to protest against his mantri’s “inflammatory remarks”.
So far the minister has refused to retract his statement. Sources say that the babus are agitated and will not relent until the mantra apologises. There is a view that Mr Venkatesh be prosecuted under the Indian Penal Code. Apparently, Mr Reddy has deputed newly appointed chief secretary Minnie Mathew to settle the matter. A tough challenge for Ms Mathew.
Not enough men
There were concerned faces in government even before Sushil Shinde took charge at home, since the Special Protection Group (SPG) is facing an acute shortage of senior officers. This elite force is responsible for the protection of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other former Prime Ministers of India. The SPG recruits officers and cops from all streams of the forces like military, frontal police organisations, but it doesn’t absorb them. These officials return to their parent organisation after their tenure in the SPG.
But given the present paucity of officers, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has had to further extend the tenure of three senior IPS officers, Ram Phal Pawar of the West Bengal cadre, Sudeep Lakhtakia of Andhra Pradesh cadre and S.L. Thaosen of Madhya Pradesh cadre. All three have served in the SPG since 2005, and were given an extension last year on the condition that “no further extension would be considered”.
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