Journalism of Courage
A DAY after the sudden transfer of UT Adviser Vijay Dev, different groups including resident welfare associations, traders, property consultants and industrial associations took to the streets in his support. Terming him the “most accessible” and honest among all other advisers, all of them gathered at the Sector 17 plaza on Thursday, protesting against the government for issuing his transfer orders, much before the completion of his term.
On Wednesday evening, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs transferred Dev, an AGMUT cadre IAS officer of 1987 batch, to Delhi.
The associations have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding cancellation of the transfer. One of the members of the industrial associations also spoke to BJP president Amit Shah who sought time till March 21. “Shah told one of our members that something would be done till March 21 but till then it would be too late. The government should give a reason for his transfer,” said M P S Chawla, president of Chandigarh Industrial Association.
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Expressing their outrage against political leaders, the associations stated that this was no way to get the officer transferred because of “personal reasons”.
“There were no charges against him. When an officer is working efficiently, what happened all of a sudden that he had to be changed? People were happy then why is he shifted suddenly?” asked Baljinder Singh Bittu, president of Federation of Sector Welfare Associations. As many as 80 sector welfare associations gathered, demanding Dev’s transfer back to Chandigarh.
According to the protesters, Dev was the officer who had got those works completed which had been pending for eight to 10 years. “People would strive to get their work done. Files would pile up for years together. It was this officer who got things done,” Bittu said.
Kamaljit Singh Panchi, president of Traders’ Association, Sector 17, stated that the transfer orders should be cancelled. “The transfer of UT Adviser is a setback for all of us. He was the most accessible officer who would immediately reply to the query of the common man as well. His predecessors were never that accessible,” said Panchi.
He added, “It is not that we won’t welcome the new Adviser but we want the government to let him complete his three-year term here. He has remained here only for 15 months. Since he was a favourite of the residents, the government should have thought of extending his term.”
Chairman of Youth Innovative Society Sachin Sharma reached Dev’s residence in the morning to express his support for him. “Transfer of the officer within one year of his posting is being seen as politically motivated,” said Sharma.
The couplet touch
UT Adviser Vijay Dev summed up his emotions in couplets to the residents who sent out a message to him after his transfer. He replied: “Hum apne lab-e-shikwa ko si lete hain, jis haal mein jeena parhe ji lete hain.”
