Indian National Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi today i.e. on Sunday. In his letter, Kharge alleged that the recent order to officers to publicize the achievements of the government in the last nine years is politicization of bureaucracy and demanded its withdrawal. In his letter, Kharge objected to the government order issued on October 18 and claimed that in the order, high rank senior officers like joint secretaries, directors and deputy secretaries are to be deployed as Rath in-charges in all 765 districts of the country, Who will promote the achievements of the Government of India in the last nine years.
Clear violation of Civil Services Rules 1964 – Congress
The Congress President also cited another order of the Defense Ministry dated October 9, 2023, in which soldiers on annual leave have been instructed to spend time in promoting government schemes, so that they can be made military ambassadors. Kharge alleged that senior officials were being used in publicity activities of the present government. He claimed that this is a clear violation of the Central Civil Services Rules 1964, which directs that no government servant shall take part in any political activity.
Kharge wrote a letter to PM Modi
Congress leader Kharge said that although it is acceptable for government officials to disseminate information, forcing them to celebrate and publicize achievements clearly turns them into political activists of the ruling party. The fact that only the achievements of the last nine years are being focused on highlights that this is clearly a political order for the five state elections and the 2024 general elections, the Congress chief alleged. He said that if senior officials of the departments are being engaged in the propaganda activity of the present government, the governance of the country will come to a standstill for the next six months.
The order should be withdrawn immediately – Kharge
Kharge told the Prime Minister in his letter that in view of the protection of our democracy and our Constitution, it is necessary that the above orders be withdrawn immediately. The Congress President alleged in a post on Twitter that all the agencies, institutions, establishments and departments of the government are now officially propagandists for the Modi government. Sharing the letter, Kharge said that in view of protecting our democracy and our Constitution, it is necessary that the orders promoting bureaucracy and politicization of our armed forces are immediately withdrawn.
AICC General Secretary Jairam Ramesh also shared this letter on X and said that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge ji has written to the Prime Minister on the tremendous politicization of bureaucrats and soldiers who should always be kept impartial and non-political. Kharge, leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said he is writing on a matter of utmost public importance which is a matter of concern not only for the India Alliance parties but also for the common people at large. He said that this is related to the gross misuse of government machinery taking place in the country today to serve the ruling political party.
Kharge, citing the Defense Ministry’s order dated October 9, 2023, said that the Army Training Command which should focus on preparing our soldiers to defend the country, will issue ‘scripts and training manuals’ on how to promote government schemes. ‘Busy preparing. Kharge stressed in his letter that in a democracy it is extremely important that the armed forces be kept away from politics. He said, “Every soldier’s loyalty is towards the nation and the Constitution. Forcing our soldiers to become ‘propaganda agents’ of government schemes is a dangerous step towards politicization of the armed forces.
He said that after many months or years of arduous service to the nation, the soldier has every right to enjoy his annual leave to relax and spend time with his family. Kharge stressed that his holidays should not be misused for political purposes. Kharge said that in the case of both government officials and soldiers, it is important to keep the government machinery away from politics, especially in the months before elections. The Congress president alleged that the above mentioned orders, apart from the Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax Department and CBI, which are already functioning as the election department of the BJP, have forced the entire government machinery to work as if they were in power. Be a party worker.