Durga's suspension now a political war

With the war of words intensifying over the suspension of IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal by the Samajwadi Party-led Uttar Pradesh government, the BJP and Left have hit out at the state as well as Central Government and two parties have decided to raise the issue in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

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BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said the UP government is punishing an honest officer who is not at fault. "Instead of taking back her suspension, the government has now filed a chargesheet, which is unacceptable."

He also said UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi's letter has brought out in the open the war between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party. "By writing a letter to the Prime Minister, Sonia has shown the war between SP and UPA. But a young officer should not face the trouble."

Left leader D Raja also said that the party will raise the issue in Parliament. "We will raide the issue in Parliament. Do not demolarise bureaucracy," he asked the Uttar Pradesh government.

The SP leader continues to blame Durga for demolishing the wall of a mosque. "This is the decision by the Chief Minister and it is justified. The wall was broken in the presence of Durga Nagpal," said Narinder Bhati.

Meanwhile, it is a full blown war between Sonia Gandhi and SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, who has often bailed out the Congress-led UPA government in times of crisis, over the suspension of Durga. After the Centre sought a report from the UP government on suspension of the IAS officer, the state government, late on Sunday night, served a chargesheet to Durga. The chargesheet holds her squarely responsible for an alleged illegal act of demolishing the wall of a mosque in a Greater Noida village.

Earlier, Sonia had written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking justice for Durga. Mulayam had hit back at her asking where was she when IAS officer Ashok Khemka was targetted for speaking against her son-in-law Robert Vadra.

CNN-IBN has accessed details of the chargesheet which was prepared by Divisional Commissioner of Meerut. The chargesheet stated that despite no apprehensions of tension at the site, Durga went to the spot and demolished the wall of a mosque. This act of hers in the holy month of Ramzan could have created resentment in the area, according to the chargesheet.

It also questioned why she did not take village elders or leaders of communities into confidence before ordering the demolition. It concluded that her act shows that she does not possess administrative skills and hence has been suspended. She has been asked to reply to this within 15 days.

CNN-IBN also learnt that the IAS officers association which had complained to Union Minister V Narayansamy on Durga's behalf is ready with a defence. They argued that Durga was only following Supreme Court orders which has barred illegal construction of religious places on government land.

The war of words has also taken a new turn with an upset SP threatening to block the passage of Food Security Bill as a response to the Congress's support to Durga.

SP leader Naresh Agarwal said, "There is no question of us ever supporting the Food Bill in its present form."

Janata dal United leader KC Tyagi said the Congress should not have intervened in the matter. "The Congress has tried to insult Mulayam by making Sonia's letter public, shouldn't have intervened."

With all major parties looking to consolidate their positions in UP ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha elections, battle for Durga is now being converted into a battle for votes in the key political state.

Big questions

Is the UP government chargesheeting of Durga Shakti Nagpal a political response to the Congress?

With Durga being chargesheeted, will the Noida Divisional Magistrate who gave a report stating that Durga didnt carry out demolition, also face the heat?

Will the SP use Centre's intervention in the case to derail proceedings in Parliament?

Can the centre use its powers to revoke Durga's suspension?