BJP slams govt over top babu’s long ‘ absence’

Leader of the Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta on Tuesday questioned chief minister Arvind Kejriwal about the sudden and mysterious disappearance of Prasanna Kumar Suryadevara, the controversial secretary of the Assembly.

According to Mr Gupta, his continuation had become a bone of contention among the Centre, the Assembly speaker, Prasar Bharti and then LG Najeeb Jung.

“When he was repatriated to his parent office by the Centre, the Assembly continued to retain him despite then L- G’s order to the contrary. Later, the speaker approached the Delhi high court against the repatriation.

The matter is still being heard in the Court, which had made strong observations some days ago against his continuation in the Assembly,” Mr Gupta said.

He expressed surprise that the secretary hasn’t been attending office for the past many days without a proper office order from either the Assembly or Delhi Secretariat.

“His disappearance is all the more surprising at this juncture when the Assembly session is going to start from Friday. Since the Assembly secretary plays a vital role in preparation of the session. Any news or order about his absence is of significance, especially before the start of the session,” he added.

Mr Gupta demanded that the government or the Assembly must come clean about Mr Suryadevara. He wanted to know if he has been relieved from his duties and repatriated. He said if it is so then the manner in which he has been relieves much to imagination.

Mr Gupta recalled that Mr Suryadevara, originally an officer of newsreadercum- translator ( Telugu) cadre, was appointed to the post of Delhi Assembly Secretary July 2016 for a year. However, Prasar Bharti expressed its inability to extend the deputation and asked the Delhi government to repatriate him, saying it was in dire need of experienced professionals.

Then L- G Mr Jung had issued an order to repatriate Mr Suryadevara, after which speaker Delhi Assembly Ram Niwas Goel had approached the Delhi high court and filed a writ petition.