LUCKNOW, DECEMBER 22: A section of members of the UP IAS Association has expressed its dismay over a few senior officials succeeding in ensuring that the issue of corruption in the fraternity was not discussed during the two-day AGM of the association which concluded here on Sunday.The officials admitted in private that there was virtually no discussion on the sensitive issue during the two-day meeting though for the past three years it had been dominating the meeting. ``They had set their cards well and managed to ensure that none could speak on the issue during the meet.This practice should be checked because it is not in the interest of the people,'' said a young IAS officer on the condition of anonymity. Now some young officers who had formed an action group - a separate body which anyone willing to fight for removing corruption can join - has decided to hold a meeting next month and decide its course of action.``We cannot let the issue die and will continue our fight till we achieve our aim ofchecking corruption at high places. We are not disheartened that the IAS association had avoided the issue because we have a separate forum to continue the crusade,'' said another official.It is surprising that the same association which agreed to hold a secret ballot to identify the ``three most corrupt officials'' for two consecutive years preferred to remain silent this year. The secret ballot had led to a rift in the IAS fraternity, prompting a senior IAS official, Neera Yadav, to quit the association. She was alleged to have been identified by the members as one of the ``three most corrupt officers'' through the ballot.The failure of the government to initiate an inquiry against the ``corrupt officials'' identified through the ballot could be one of the reasons for the IAS association avoiding the issue this time. A section of IAS officers had met then CM Kalyan Singh and urged him to take action against the corrupt officials but they were cold-shouldered.``Come to me with proof. I will not takeaction against anyone on the basis of a secret ballot,'' Kalyan had said. Members of the action group say they won't rest till some action is initiated against their ``corrupt colleagues''.
