In a post on Facebook, Gangwar wrote: “Pls let me know the mistakes Nehru should not have committed...It was his mistake if he didn’t allow you to become a Hindu Talibani Rashtra in 1947...It was his mistake that he brought IIT, ISRO, BARAC, IISB, IIM, BHEL STEEL PLANT, DAMS, THERMAL POWER (sic)”. “...it was his mistake that he gave respect to SARABHAI, HOMI JAHANGEER instead of INTELLECTUAL like Asaram and Ramdev..It was his blunder that he opened university in place of Goshala and Mandir.It was his mistake that he showed you a scientific way in place of superstition. Gandhi family needs to apologise to the nation for such mistakes (sic)”, he went on to add.

“This is my personal opinion meant for a discussion exclusively among Facebook friends and is a kind of satire. Some may agree and some may not. I don’t think expressing opinion on a subject in such a manner amounts to making a political comments and violates Central Civil Services (conduct) Rules”, Gangwar told the media.

The IAS officer’s post didn’t go down well with the top echelons in the bureaucracy. His remark caused a furore in the administrative circles of the state. The state government took prompt action and punished him by transferring from the district to the state secretariat.

But his remark and vindictive action against him gave rise to a stormy debate about the freedom of speech and a civil servant can enjoy. Many present and former IAS officers rushed to his support and asserted that Gangwar has not violated the conduct rules applicable to government servants. They asserted that in his message he did not comment about any political party or about the government of the day.

Things have reached to such a stage that the officers and employees’ organisations have threatened collective action if the state government decided to inflict more drastic punishment.

An important point in the defence of the collector has been cited. It has been recalled that the Shivraj Singh Chauhan government by an order issued in 2006 has permitted the state government servants to participate in the activities of the RSS. Despite claim to the contrary RSS is a semi political organisation. By issuing such an order, BJP government has allowed the state government to participate in politics. If that is so then state government has no moral and even legal right to punish Gangwar. Thus it may boomerang if the government decided to further punish Gangwar.

Besides Gangwar, another collector has been served a notice for congratulating Jayalalithaa on her election victory.

After removing Badwani collector Ajay Singh Gangwar for praising former Prime Minister Jawaharlal, Narsingpur collector Sibi Chakravarti has been served notice for congratulating Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa.

In the notice, Chakravarti has been charged with violating the civil services code of conduct. Chakravarti had congratulated Jayalalithaa on social media on her winning election for a consecutive second time and also termed it as a“historic moment”. Although, Chakravarti was removed from his post when controversy erupted, Chief Secretary Antony De Sa has also reprimanded Chakravarti in this matter.

Meanwhile, MP Congress committee has termed the state government’s action of transferring Badwani collector Ajay Singh Gangwar for his Facebook post on Nehru as an attack on freedom of expression.

State Congress chief spokesman KK Mishra alleged that the state government has ‘Manuwadi Vichardhara’ and abound sycophants. Mishra said it is an irony that IAS Association is silent on such acts of harassing officers of SC and ST categories.

Mishra quipped as to why the state government is soft towards principal secretary Dr. Rajesh Rajora, who addressed a meeting of state executive body of BJP at BJP headquarters.

Massive protests broke out in Bhopal and Harda on May 26 after badly disfigured bodies of two brothers. Bhopal-based lawyer Naveen Agrawal (45) and his hotelier brother Sudhir Agrawal (51), were found near a canal in a village in adjacent Hoshangabad district.

The brothers, along with their aides, were allegedly kidnapped and brutally assaulted over a land row in Harda district on Monday. The aides, however, had escaped after the car in which the kidnappers had dumped them with the intention to throw them in a river had met with an accident.

Seven persons, including a woman, have been arrested in the case, while five others are on the run. A sub-inspector has also been suspended for failing to take timely action.

In Bhopal, members of Agrawal Community led by Congress leader Govind Goel staged demonstration outside state’s home minister Babulal Gaur’s house while district court lawyers forced the closure of court and blocked streets outside the court. They also set afire the effigy of the home minister and demanded his resignation.

In Harda, commercial establishments were closed across the town as protesters threw stones at the police. Traders along with women members of the bereaved family demonstrated outside the Harda Kotwali. They demanded action against some senior police officers; including district police Chief Prem Babu Sharma, for alleged laxity in investigation.

In a late evening development, the sub-inspector in-charge of Sirali police station VS Ghuraiya was suspended and a probe ordered against him.

Also, a five-strong special investigation team (SIT) headed by Harda SDOP Vinod Srivastava was constituted by the Hoshangabad IG to probe the entire case.

“Bodies of the Agrawal brothers were found in Bandarkhoh village following information from one of the accused Nikhil Tiwari, who was caught in Indore on Wednesday, Hoshangabad range inspector general SK Saxena said. The hands of both deceased were tied with ropes and their faces disfigured and burnt to hide their identity, the IG added.

Seven persons, including mastermind Jagdish Rajput, his wife, sons Yashwant and Lalu, nephews Sher Singh and Rahul, besides Indore man Nikhil Tiwari have been arrested and booked for murder, abduction, destruction of evidence and rioting. Five other accused, including Rajput’s four other sons and his nephew, are on the run,” SP Prem Babu Sharma said.

Because an advocate is involved in this crime lawyers all over the state gone on strike. They want Harda SP to be booked for murder. They also want government to take elaborate steps for the protection of lawyers.

They threatened that they may intensify their agitation if their demands are not accepted immediately. (IPA Service)