UP bureaucrats take umbrage at Akhilesh's remark on graft

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's candid remark that the state bureaucracy was “neck deep in corruption” has evoked angry response from officials who said the government has failed to curb corruption.

Senior bureaucrats felt that the chief minister’s remark “will demoralise” the honest and upright officials. “The present dispensation itself does not seem to be serious in fighting corruption and has failed to punish the corrupt officials,” he said.

Ahead of the Assembly elections seven months ago, the Samajwadi Party (SP) had promised to set up a commission to probe the cases of corruption during the Mayawati regime if it came to power. “So far, there is no indication that such a commission will be constituted,” the official said.

Officials have many examples to buttress their contention. “The government did not suspend former health secretary and NRHM scam accused Pradeep Shukla even after he had spent several months behind bars. He was suspended only after the intervention of the court,” they pointed out.

The government shocked many when it revoked the suspension of former Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation chief engineer Arun Kumar Mishra, accused of indulging in financial irregularities worth several hundred crores of rupees. The Allahabad High Court has directed the government to explain the reinstatement of Mishra.

According to officials,  200 corruption cases are being probed in the state. Many charge sheets have been filed, but the government has not pursued them to prosecute the guilty.