Bhubaneswar: A day after IAS Officer Bijay Ketan Upadhyaya’s wife alleged conspiracy behind the arrest of her husband, the Opposition political parties today voiced similar concerns and condemned the State government over the issue.
After Upadhyaya's wife said that there is factionalism among the bureaucrats and some are being deliberately targeted, the BJP alleged that while only a handful of bureaucrats are actually controlling the government machinery, most other officers are facing discrimination.
State BJP General Secretary Prithviraj Harichandan said that arrest of BK Upadhyaya is a glaring example of how majority of IAS officers are not able to prove their mettle and are being neglected and insulted because a certain coterie is calling all the shots.
“Most high level officials in the bureaucracy are experiencing job dissatisfaction because of the coterie surrounding CM Naveen. I hope he will realise the scenario and take exemplary action,” said Harichandan.
Similarly, senior Congress MLA Suresh Routray also came out in support of the arrested IAS officer & his wife. Routray slammed the government saying, “Bribery charges seems like a conspiracy against the bureaucrat and allegations levelled by his wife are probably true. Such incidents will weaken the administration & bureaucracy.”
On the other hand, the Planning & Convergence minister, Padmanabha Behera refuted the allegations of discrimination against IAS officers in the government.
“Comments made by Upadhyaya’s wife are her personal statements. She might be saying like that to save her husband. But in my opinion, there is no such thing as Odia and non-Odia officers in the government because whoever does good work gets accolades,” said Behera.
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