JOIN USFormer Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi, who was at loggerheads with AAP-led Delhi government on law and order issues, was on Tuesday appointed as a member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Bassi, who retired as Delhi Police chief in February, will have tenure of about five years until February 2021. The Commission has a maximum strength of 10 members besides a chairperson.
The 1977-batch AGMUT cadre IPS officer’s appointment came within three months of his appointment even as he had during his stint as the police chief attracted criticism for his handling of sedition case involving JNU students and violence on journalists in court when JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar was brought.
Bassi had made public comments about Kejriwal’s remarks against the functioning of the police. The vacancy arose after former CBI Director A P Singh tendered his resignation in January 2015.
At present, UPSC is headed by Deepak Gupta. The other members are Alka Sirohi, David R Syiemlieh, Manbir Singh, Former Navy Vice Chief D K Dewan, Vinay Mittal, Chhatar Singh, Prof Hem Chandra, Arvind Saxena and Prof Pradeep Kumar Joshi.
Reacting to the appointment, AAP said it proves that “BJP’s senior spokesperson” has been “obliged” by the government.
“Appointment is the prerogative of the government. This has become clear on whose instructions Bassi was working and he has been obliged. The AAP has been saying very categorically that Bassi was acting as the senior spokesperson of the BJP. His appointment proves the fact that he was and he is the senior spokesperson of the BJP, which is why he has been appointed,” AAP leader Ashutosh said.