Moment painful: Khemka on transfer; CM says routine action

Shifted for the 46th time in his 24-year-old career, whistleblower IAS officer Ashok Khemka today termed Haryana government's action as "painful", saying despite "entrenched interests", he strived hard to fight corruption.
Khemka, who shot into limelight after he questioned Robert Vadra's land deals in Haryana, said he "tried hard to address corruption and bring reforms in Transport department despite severe limitations and entrenched interests."
"This moment is truly painful." 49-year-old Khemka, who has a doctorate in Computer Science besides a Master's degree in Economics and an MBA degree, said in a tweet a day after he was moved to Archaeology and Museums Department by the BJP Government in the State.

Khemka, who was Commissioner-Secretary Haryana Transport department, before being moved to his new posting, saw his first posting last 11 months in Land and Revenue department in 1993 which was followed by a short tenure of a month in Agriculture and Cooperative department.
Seeking to downplay the issue, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the transfer of Khemka, a 1991-batch officer, was an administrative matter.
Describing Khemka as an "honest" officer with an upright image, Khattar said that his transfer order should not be seen as handing out any kind of punishment to him.

"The transfer of any officer formed part of the administrative process. It (Khemka's transfer) is an administrative matter. Every officer is deputed by the government wherever his services are required," Khattar told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Hisar today.

Meanwhile, Haryana's Health Minister Anil Vij came out in Khemka's support, saying he will talk to the Chief Minister regarding the officer "who had worked to weed out corruption during the previous Congress regime".
When asked about the decision, Vij told reporters in Ambala, "I will talk to the Chief Minister regarding Khemka's transfer. I will try to find out the reasons why he has been transferred and I will be able to throw more light only after having talked to the Chief Minister."
Vij, an outspoken BJP leader and Ambala Cantt MLA, said he had always stood by Khemka, "who had worked to weed out corruption during the previous Congress regime".