'Alien Concept To Congress', 'Condemnable': BJP Vs Oppn Over Deployment Of Officials As 'Rath Prabharis'

A row has begun between the BJP and opposition over the letter Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to PM Narendra Modi on the Centre's order to deploy officials as 'Rath Prabharis'.

Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) president JP Nadda has attacked the Congress party after its chief Mallikarjun Kharge wrote a letter to PM Narendra Modi over the deployment of bureaucrats as 'Rath Prabhari's for BJP's 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra'. The row has become a BJP vs opposition fight with CPI (M) now denouncing the government order of using officers as 'Pracharaks'. Nadda said that it might be an "alien concept" for the Congress but public service is the "duty of a Government". He said that Modi government is ensuring saturation of all schemes but the grand old party is only interested in keeping the "poor in poverty".

"It maybe an alien concept to the Congress Party, but public service delivery is the duty of a Government. If the Modi Govt wants to ensure saturation of all schemes and ensure all beneficiaries are reached, nobody who has the interest of the poor in his mind can have a problem," Nadda said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

"But Congress only has an interest in keeping the poor in poverty and hence their opposition to the saturation drive," he added.

His reaction came after Congress President Kharge wrote a strongly-worded letter to PM Narendra Modi, expressing concern over the alleged misuse of government machinery for political purposes.

Meanwhile, reacting to the development, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury "condemned" the order and said that this "propaganda" has been done to "actually mobilise election campaign for PM Modi."

"This sort of gross misuse of the governmental machinery has not been seen in India ever. Every department is being asked to propagate what has been achieved under the Modi government. This propaganda, the whole government including the armed forces and the railways have all been mobilised to actually conduct the election campaign for PM Modi. This is completely condemnable...We think that immediately these orders must be withdrawn," Yechury told ANI.

 

Kharge's Letter To PM Modi

Kharge raised questions about the government's recent decision to use senior bureaucrats and military personnel in propagating government schemes launched in its tenure, suggesting this compromises democratic norms.

He pointed to a letter dated October 18, 2023, in which senior government officials, including those holding the ranks of Joint Secretary, Director, and Deputy Secretary, are designated as "Rath Prabharis." These officers are tasked with "showcasing achievements of the last 9 years of the Government of India," a period that corresponds with Prime Minister Modi's time in office. This directive, Kharge argues, violates the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules of 1964, which prohibit government servants from participating in political activities.

By transforming civil servants into celebratory agents of the government, Kharge contends that the administration has "weaponized" these officials for political purposes, notably in the lead-up to the upcoming state elections and the general elections in 2024.