Khattar’s OSD not in his office, no grievance redress session in Karnal for past three weeks

KARNAL:FOR the past three weeks, Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Amarendra Singh, to chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has not been attending office. Amarendra, who belongs to Uttar Pradesh, was appointed as the OSD and was given the task of redressing grievances of residents of Karnal, the CM’S constituency, in November 2014. Amarendra held two open sessions (Tuesday-friday) every week. Hundreds of residents visiting the office hoping to get their complaints resolved are, thus, going back disappointed.

With no office being held, the OSD residence that also functions as the CM’S camp office bears a deserted look. Amarendra was inaccessible even on mobile phones. An official appointed to record details of visitors at the camp office said, “The OSD is busy in Chandigarh, working on some important assignments. I do not know when he plans to return.”

Sources in the BJP district unit claimed that there was a possibility that the CM might replace Amarendra him with a local leader as he was facing criticism for being an outsider. “With elections approaching in a few months and CM announcing that he will contest from Karnal, the focus here will increase,” a source said.

BJP’S Karnal district unit president Jagmohan Anand said, “The OSD has been working in Chandigarh. So, he is unable to visit Karnal.” On reports that the CM may replace Amarendra with local leaders, he said, “This is the prerogative of the CM.” He added, “People are welcome to come to me for redress of their complaints. We are available round the clock.”