look news india
Kolkata, 04 September (HS). Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Shubhendu Adhikari has raised questions over the appointment of Manoj Pant as the Chief Secretary of the state. Shubhendu Adhikari said on Wednesday that Pant has been made the Chief Secretary by bypassing seven senior officials because Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wants to serve her interests through him.
Shubhendu Adhikari said in Xpost that there was a huge uproar in Navanna (Secretariat) on August 31 over the appointment to the post of Chief Secretary, when Finance Secretary Manoj Pant was appointed to this post bypassing seven officers in the seniority order. Manoj Pant, who was removed from Navanna on the evening of August 30, sat on the chair of Chief Secretary the very next day. This incident has created a stir in the bureaucratic system of the state.
Manoj Pant, who is also an ex-cadre Additional Chief Secretary, beat senior officers like Atri Bhattacharya of 1989 batch and Subhrata Gupta of 1990 batch to reach this post. Subhrata Gupta's name is also in the news because she became the national topper of the IAS exam after a long time.
Leader of Opposition Shubhendu Adhikari launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over this appointment. Describing the Chief Minister as a 'fake messiah', he said that the Chief Minister, who presents herself as a well-wisher of Bengalis, is now ignoring qualified and senior Bengali officials to serve her own interests. Shubhendu Adhikari alleged that there is a difference between the Chief Minister's words and actions and this appointment has exposed her “hypocrisy”. He said that the criteria for appointment to any post should be only merit, but those who play the game of regionalism for their convenience should understand that their hypocrisy often gets exposed due to their double policy.