IAS officer row: Congress urges President Murmu not to accept resignation
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Thursday urged President Droupadi Murmu not to accept the "technical resignation" of IAS officer Rinkoo Singh Rahee and demanded that the Uttar Pradesh government be directed to provide work to the officer who has sought return to his parent Provincial Civil Services, citing prolonged lack of work.
Congress SC Department chairman Rajendra Pal Gautam said that even today, when a Dalit youth works hard to become an IAS-PCS officer, he or she has to face harassment.
"The situation becomes such that the officers are forced to resign from their job. One such officer is Rinkoo Singh Rahee Ji. When Rinkoo Singh Ji was a PCS officer, he exposed a scam in which crores of rupees had been embezzled. At that time, a murderous attack was carried out on him, and he was shot," Gautam said at a press conference.
"Look at the spirit of national service: Rinkoo Ji recovered and returned, becoming an IAS officer, but he continued to be punished for his honesty and kept being transferred repeatedly. Now the situation is that for the past eight months, he hasn't been assigned any work at all; no important or key position has been given to him. In such a situation, Rinkoo Ji refused to accept his salary and submitted a technical resignation," he said.
Is there no need for such honest officers in the country, the Congress leader asked.
"Will any officer be punished for being a Dalit?" he said.
"I demand from the Honourable President of the country that the technical resignation of IAS Rinkoo Singh Rahee Ji should not be accepted. At the same time, the UP government should be directed to provide work to him," Gautam said.
Rahee, currently attached to the Board of Revenue in Lucknow, has written to the President requesting repatriation to PCS, stating that he has remained without any defined responsibilities for around eight months.
When asked about his step, Rahee told PTI that his move should not be construed as an attempt to exit public service, emphasising that it was a procedural step.
"I am not talking about quitting the system. It is a technical resignation only. I consider the constitutional system to be good; if there are some shortcomings, they can be amended," he said.
Rahee also dismissed suggestions of personal distress or harassment, stating, "I have no personal issues. I am not personally harassed, not in depression, I have already faced the worst."
In his letter to the President dated March 26, Rahee has sought permission to tender a technical resignation from the IAS, citing moral dilemma over continuing in service without substantive responsibilities while drawing salary and benefits.
He stated that his adherence to constitutional values and an accountability-driven work approach had led to a sense of "unsuitability" within the prevailing administrative system.
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BJP 'favours only rich' while we care for poor: CM Siddaramaiah
Davanagere (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the BJP, accusing it of "favouring the rich", while asserting that his government stands firmly with the poor.
Interacting with reporters after a campaign event in Davanagere South constituency, Siddaramaiah said the BJP subscribes to an economic model that benefits the wealthy, while the Congress government is committed to welfare measures aimed at uplifting the underprivileged.
“There are two economic theories – Trickle down theory and Universal Basic Income theory. BJP supports trickle-down—meaning they favour the rich. While we believe in Universal Basic Income, which supports the poor,” he said.
The CM said the public response to the ongoing campaign had exceeded expectations and reflected growing awareness among voters.
“In the campaign, people are responding beyond our expectations. People have realised that the BJP, despite being in power for four years, did nothing,” he said, alleging that the previous government “carried out no development work and only looted the state.”
Defending the government’s flagship guarantee schemes, Siddaramaiah said they have been implemented successfully over the past three years and have restored public confidence.
“Every year, we are spending around Rs 52,000 crore. Up to March 31, Rs 1.31 lakh crore has been spent. So there is no question about these schemes—we will continue them,” he said, dismissing the BJP’s claims that the programmes would bankrupt the state.
Rejecting criticism over rising debt, he said borrowings remain well within permissible limits. He added that the state’s fiscal deficit is also under control at 2.95 per cent, in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act norms.
The Chief Minister attributed the revenue deficit to reduced central transfers rather than welfare spending.
According to him, Karnataka lost around Rs 10,000 crore due to changes in GST implementation and the Centre had not released Rs 11,495 crore in dues and grants.
On allegations of corruption in welfare schemes, Siddaramaiah said the charges were "baseless" as funds are directly transferred to beneficiaries.
“The money is directly transferred to beneficiaries’ accounts. Where is the scope for bribes?” he said, citing the Gruha Lakshmi scheme under which Rs 2,000 is credited to women beneficiaries.
He also countered claims regarding unpaid dues to contractors, saying the previous BJP government had left behind significant liabilities.
“They left Rs 29,000 crore unpaid. We have already cleared Rs 24,000 crore,” he said.
Responding to BJP state president B Y Vijayendra’s demands for a White Paper on the state’s finances, Siddaramaiah said all details had already been presented in the Budget and debated in the Assembly.
“Why ask for a White Paper again? Isn’t the Budget itself a White Paper?” he said, adding that he had replied to the discussion for over four-and-a-half hours.
On fuel pricing amid global uncertainties, including tensions involving Iran, the Chief Minister said petroleum pricing is under the Centre’s purview.
Reaffirming the government’s stand on social justice, Siddaramaiah said it is committed to internal reservation and criticised the BJP’s stance on AHINDA, which is an acronym for minorities, backward and Dalits.
“When did the BJP ever show concern for AHINDA? They only talk about Hindutva,” he said.
On employment, the CM announced that large-scale recruitment would continue despite concerns over finances.
“This year, we will fill 56,432 posts. Around 2.5 lakh vacant posts will be filled,” he said.
Addressing concerns over the functioning of the Karnataka Public Service Commission, Siddaramaiah said it is an independent body and that certain interviews were postponed to ensure transparency and proper procedure.
