The former minister said that a Congress worker was sitting as a collector and that he was asking all the BRS leaders to join the Congress.
Published Nov 29, 2024 | 12:16 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 29, 2024 | 1:53 PM
File photo of KTR. (KTRTRS/Facebook)
BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) kicked up a controversy in Telangana with his “unwarranted” comments on Sircilla district Collector Sandeep Kumar Jha at a public meeting in Sircilla recently.
The former minister, who represents Sircilla in the state Assembly, during his speech to enthuse and enliven the party workers in the constituency, said that a Congress worker was sitting as a collector and that he was asking all the BRS leaders to join the Congress.
“We have a nincompoop (sannasi) as the collector of the district which we created for ourselves (when the BRS was in power). But there is now a Congress worker who is there as the collector. He has been asking our party leaders to join the Congress. I know these dramas. I am not a good person when it comes to dealing with certain issues. I will repay with interest,” he had said.
The Telangana IAS officers’ and IPS officers’ associations on Thursday, 28 November, took a serious exception to KTR’s “unwarranted” tirade against the Siriclla Collector.
The IAS officer association expressed deep concern and strong condemnation of the “derogatory” statement of the Sircilla MLA.
It deplored the MLA personally targeting and belittling the collector in a manner that undermined the dignity of an officer holding such an important position in the state’s administration.
“It raised questions on his impartiality. Public servants of all ranks work tirelessly to serve the people and ensure effective governance of the state often in challenging circumstances,” the association said.
The association demanded that such statements be retracted and sought an apology. “We urge the concerned (KTR) to reflect upon the gravity of such statements and their impact on the morale of officers serving the public with utmost sincerity and commitment.”
In a separate statement, the Telangana IPS Officers’ Association condemned the derogatory statement of KTR.
The association said it was unequivocally condemning the derogatory and baseless allegations made against a serving civil servant by Sircilla MLA KT Rama Rao.
“He attempted to question the collector’s integrity and impartiality,” the association said.
“Such remarks are a direct affront to the principles of governance and constitutional mandate under which civil servants operate. Officers are duty-bound to uphold the rule of law and serve the public without fear or favour and unwarranted attacks of this nature are both irresponsible and detrimental to democratic institutions,” it added.
The association said it was standing firmly with the district collector and reiterated its collective commitment to safeguarding the dignity, independence and impartiality of the civil services.
It called for an end to the practice of making such unfounded accusations and urged all stakeholders to engage in a discourse that respects institutions and the rule of law.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
