Not quitting, but transfers a full-time business for some: Agri Minister

Although Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar today dismissed speculation about his resignation from the Cabinet, he admitted that transfers of government employees was a pandora’s box, which has become a full-time business for some.

Chaudhary was responding to queries regarding social media post by his son Neeraj Chaudhary, a former Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS), that said as a minister his father had no say and people close to BJP in his constituency of Jawali were running a ‘transfer industry’.

The minister said his son Neeraj Bharti had shown resentment in transfers in his Assembly segment of Jawali and the Chief Minister has tried to resolve the issue.

Bharti, who is a two term MLA himself and former CPS in Virbhadra regime, created a stir by posting that his father would resign from the Cabinet. “Kaam agar dalalon ka hoga to mantra ben ke kya fayda,” he wrote. The possibility of Bharti contesting the next assembly election in place of his father, who is 81, cannot be ruled out.

However, Chaudhray did not mince words in stating that some people had made transfers of employees an industry, while specifically targeting Education and Health departments. “The transfer industry is like a ‘Pandora’s box’ which has become a whole-time business which we all must discourage,” he said expressing his anger against the transfer industry.

He admitted that workers are not keen on development works but are only interested in transfers, close to their homes. It is high time that a strict transfer policy is formulated as some people indulge in this to show that they have a big say, eroding the credibility of the state government.

Even as the minister said that the issue had been resolved, his son made yet another social media post stating that he will continue his fight against injustice being meted out to Congress supporters. “This is not my personal fight but an issue concerning all those who supported Congress. If the transfer orders of BJP supporters back to their places of posting are not cancelled, I will not just fight the government but also you,” he wrote.

Chaudhary, in the past also, had expressed his anguish over delay in revamping of the state Congress and the party units at the district and block level while stating that the party had become defunct.

Himachal Tribune