Raj govt refutes IAS officer's allegations, hints at action

Rajasthan government today rejected as baseless the allegations by senior IAS officer Umrao Salodia, who has opted for VRS claiming that he was victimized as a dalit, and indicated action against him for allegedly violating service Rules.
"Salodia has violated the All India Service Rules 1968 by crticising the government from a public forum. His allegations against the government are absolutely baseless. Raje government has never victimised anyone," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajendra Rathore told reporters here.
He said that the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Kailash Meghwal, Chairman of RPSC Lalit K Panwar and Chairman of Rajasthan Subordinate and Ministerial Services Selection Board Ramkhiladi Meena come from SC/ST sections and there was no discrimination.

"As far as the extension of Chief Secretary for three months is concerned, it was done after the state government forwarded a proposal to Centre under rules. Earlier also, similar extensions were given to officers like Govind Mishra, M L Mehta and Anil Vaishya," he said.
"IAS officer Umrao Salodia is going to retire after six months. He changed his religion and it is his constitutional right under Article 25 - freedom to practice any religion. There might be some personal reasons but we do not know why he is doing these things six months before retirement," he said.
The minister said that the government would examine the matter and action would be taken under rules and regulations. It will also be examined whether the expenditure of holding a press conference by Umrao was borne by him or the state roadways (RSRTC).

On the VRS application by Umrao, who is Chairman of the RSRTC, the minister said that the government would take appropriate decision.

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Terming the issue as an exception in bureaucracy,
Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee president Sachin Pilot condemned it and said the incident has put the BJP government in dock as it utterly neglected and discriminated Salodia.
Pilot said, "It also showed the state government's disinterestedness attitude towards the deserving IAS officer, who was one of the competent bureaucrats."
Because of the state government's partiality, Salodia did not get a chance to serve as Chief Secretary. Hence he converted his religion, Pilot alleged.

The Salodia case only reflects how the crime against SC/ST, minority and women have increased sharply after BJP came to power at the state, Pilot said.