CM’s Solan visit: Transfer fear has officials on toes

Tribune News Service

Solan,February 24

Having borne the brunt of the authorities for the “mismanaged” visit of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur to the district, the administration is now leaving no stone unturned for the latter’s visit to Solan tomorrow.

As a corrective measure, the venue of All-India Police Lawn Tennis Championship has been shifted from a private school to the Police Lines. Since there are two well-maintained tennis courts in the Police Lines, the inauguration of the championship from a private school has become a bone of contention between local BJP leaders and police officials organising the tournament. Meanwhile, Vinod Kumar joined as the new Deputy Commissioner of Solan and Rani Bindu took over as the new Superintendent of Police, Baddi.

The social media was abuzz with the controversial transfer of the DC, Solan, and SP, Baddi, following mismanagement during the Chief Minister’s tour.

The people were seen comparing the incident to January 25, 1999, when during the Statehood Day function in Dharamsala, the jeep in which the then Chief Minister, PK Dhumal, was supposed to inspect the parade could not start due to a mechanical defect. Despite rain, policemen had lined up for the parade and instead of taking an infuriated view of the situation, Dhumal walked on the slushy ground to inspect the parade.

Though officials were expecting an adverse backlash from the Chief Minister, he had gracefully said when policemen could brave the cold and rain, why couldn’t he inspect the parade on foot.

Terming it a hasty step, locals in Baddi said the transfer of officials would fail to serve the purpose. A protest march was also taken out in Baddi by youths who said the transfer of SP, Baddi, had hit the attempt of the police to curb illegal mining and fight against drug trade in this industrial belt.

Mukesh Agnihotri, leader of the Congress Legislative Party, said the Chief Minister had failed to do anything productive and the government was trying to browbeat the officials. Lakhwinder Rana, Congress MLA, Nalagarh, said the transfer of the two officers was a repercussion of the internal bickering of two factions of the BJP and the officers paid the price.