BJP attacks UP government over IAS officer's suspension

The BJP Monday attacked the Uttar Pradesh government over the suspension of a woman IAS officer in Noida, alleging that the Akhilesh Yadav government took the step due to "vote bank" politics.

"A woman officer was suspended. Everybody is saying she was very honest. The reason was vote bank politics. She had prevented some illegal construction at a place of worship," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Jaitley said addressing party workers here.

Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, who took on the sand mining mafia in Greater Noida (Gautam Budh Nagar), was suspended Sunday. The UP government has, however, cited a different reason for her suspension. It said she was suspended for ordering demolition of a wall of a religious place in Noida.

Jaitley, leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha, also hit out at the Congress for also indulging in vote-bank politics. Citing the Batla House shootout, he alleged that Congress leaders had gone to Azamgarh to the houses of youths who were accused of being terrorists.

"People in this government try to link the security issues of the country with vote banks," he said accusing the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government of having made the country "weak".

He asked BJP workers to ensure that the country is freed from the clutches of the Congress rule, saying this was what every citizen wants.