Khemka tweets transfer as 'painful', minister supports him

Chandigarh: A day after he was abruptly transferred by the Haryana's BJP government headed by Manohar Lal Khattar, senior Haryana cadre IAS officer Ashok Khemka today tweeted that the action was "painful".

"Tried hard to address corruption and bring reforms in transport despite severe limitations and entrenched interests. Moment is truly painful," Khemka said in the tweet.

Khemka was on Wednesday once again transferred to an inconsequential post by the Khattar government.

This is Khemka's 46th transfer in 24 years.

Haryana's outspoken Health and Sports Minister Anil Vij came out in support of Khemka. He said that he would speak to the chief minister about Khemka's sudden transfer.

Khemka's transfer is being linked to the powerful transporters lobby in Haryana whom he had rubbed on the wrong side with his recent decisions.

The Haryana transport department, under Khemka, had recently banned on plying of long-body trailers without obtaining permission.

The department had recently issued a notification, saying all heavy vehicles need to adhere to new criteria on dimensions of these vehicles before they are issued fitness certificates to ply on roads.

There are nearly 3.5 lakh transport vehicles plying in Haryana.

Khemka, an IIT-Kharagpur graduate, as per the latest orders of the Haryana government, has been posted as secretary, archaeology and museums department and director gGeneral, archaeology and museums. The post is considered on virtually no importance.

He was appointed as transport commissioner and secretary, transport department, last year after Khattar assumed office as chief minister of the first BJP government in Haryana.

At that time, Khemka, who had blown the lid off from the controversial multi-million-rupee land deals of Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra, was touted to get an important assignment. However, he was posted in the transport department.