P. Calling Bengal Chief Secretary an attack on democracy, such a step will create chaos: Congress

New Delhi
The Congress has attacked the central government. The Central Government has recalled the Chief Secretary of West Bengal, Alapan Bandopadhyay. Describing this as an attack on democracy and cooperative federalism, the Congress said on Saturday that such a step would create chaos. The party’s chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also questioned why it was decided to recall Bandopadhyay only four days after extending the service for three months?

Attack on Modi government
“The malicious and arbitrary recall of the Chief Secretary of West Bengal by the Modi government has shocked the consciousness of the entire nation,” he said in a statement. This is even more serious in the sense that four days ago, the Modi government gave a three-month extension of service to the Chief Secretary.

‘Attack on democracy and federalism’
Surjewala alleged that this step of the Center is an attack on democracy and cooperative federalism and such a step would create chaos in the country. He said, ‘This is a great setback to the country’s constitution and cooperative federalism. If the central government is allowed to recall officers of the All India Services from various states on a party basis, then the entire structure of the legal system and the Constitution will be destroyed. ‘

Surjewala asked, ‘Will the Prime Minister and the Department of Personnel and Training disclose why he was called back only after four days of extending the service to the Chief Secretary?’ The Congress general secretary claimed that the central government’s move appears to want to oust the recently elected Trinamool Congress government.

He said that Congress calls upon all jurists, constitutional experts, public representatives and every countryman to condemn the attack on India’s constitutional fabric and federal structure. Significantly, just four days after the extension of service to West Bengal Chief Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay, the Center sought his services on Friday night and asked the state government to immediately relieve the officer. The ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal termed the move as ‘forced deputation’.