Mayawati does it again; suspends three top officials

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati is at it again.

While carrying out a review of the development and law and order situation of a couple of administrative divisions, she suspended three senior officials and gave marching orders to a few others over the past 24 hours.

Among those suspended were Agra Divisional Commissioner V K Sharma, Kanpur Deputy Inspector General of Police R R Bhatnagar and Basti Superintendent of Police P P Srivastava.

While a few district magistrates and DIGs have been transferred, at least half a dozen others have been issued written warnings to pull up their socks over the next one month.

Mayawati's review meetings were planned at the very outset when she assumed the chief minister's office six months ago. Even though officials are used to her brazen ways and have had a taste of her punitive spree during her last two brief stints in office , the current drastic action has sent shock waves in the state's administrative circles.

Though a section of the bureaucracy feels that there was need for officials to change their lackadaisical attitude, others are sore over Mayawati's action.

The chief minister sought to justify her action. In a statement issued here this evening, she said, "I had forewarned everyone that I would review the progress of work done at the grassroots level and had made it loud and clear that any official found wanting would have to face the music," she said. "Similarly, I had said that I would hold the senior officials responsible for failures on the law and order front."

She has directed zonal inspectors general of police, divisional commissioner and DIGs to keep a constant watch on the area within their jurisdiction and monitor the performance of their subordinate officials.

She has also issued a clear diktat to all district magistrates and district police chiefs to ensure their availability and accessibility to common people between 10 am to 12 noon or between 11 am and 1 pm. every day. "They must resolve common grievances of people within 15 days and major complaints brought to their notice within a month," she said.