‘No hard feelings for any official or politician’

The day after, Dev, a 1987-batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer, seemed as taken aback by his out-of-the-blue transfer as his considerable fan following in the city, but he managed to put up a brave front. “I have no hard feelings for anyone, be it officials or politicians. I have complete positivity for them,” he said, when asked if he believed that a section of the city’s political establishment and officials was behind his transfer.

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He also termed his transfer routine. “MHA is the cadre controlling authority and it is the prerogative of the ministry to decide when and where to post an official and we have to follow the directions,” he said.

Since the news of his transfer spread on Wednesday evening, a large number of people belonging to different groups — political, industrial and residential welfare associations — have declared support for Dev, holding local politicians responsible for the transfer, and demanding that it be cancelled.

“I am humbled by the support I have received from public,” said a visibly moved Dev. “Since last evening I have received thousands of messages. I am moved with the kind of love public has shown. I can’t ask for more,” said Dev.

But he said, “I have never tried for any posting, nor ever tried to get my transfer stopped. I came here as a king, and I am going as a king.”
Dev also expressed satisfaction with the time he had spent in Chandigarh. “I am very happy and satisfied with my tenure. We worked in the right direction. I could see it when people used to greet me with a big smile wherever I went. My focus was always welfare of people and the love I am getting is my earning.”

Parimal Rai, a 1985 batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer, has been named his replacement.