Tamil Nadu IRS officer who earlier criticized FM Nirmala Sitharaman, suspended day before retirement
Chennai: Indian Revenue Services (IRS) Officer B. Balamurugan, who earlier criticized Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, was suspended on January 29, two days before he was set to formally retire. According to an official notice sent to Balamurugan, disciplinary proceedings have also been initiated against him. The notice does not mention any reason for Balamurugan suspension, reports thewire.in.
The bureaucrat was in the news for allegedly criticizing Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharam, writing to the President Droupadi Murmu and demanding to sack her.
According to thewire.in, Balamurugan had reportedly written to the President Droupadi Murumu accusing the economic intelligence agency Enforcement Directorate (ED) of functioning as an extended arm of the BJP. The officer’s move came following the ED sending summons to Dalit farmers in Tamil Nadu who were engaged in a legal tussle with a local BJP leader.
The controversy arose when the ED issued summons to two Dalit farmers in Tamil Nadu, Kannaiyan and Krishnan, both in their 70s and residents of Attur in Salem district. The farmers were embroiled in a legal dispute with a local BJP leader, Gunashekar. The ED's involvement and its reference to the farmers as 'Hindu Pallars' sparked outrage. The farmers, surviving on a meager Rs 1,000 monthly pension, alleged that the ED targeted them due to their land dispute with Gunashekar, who they accused of attempting to unlawfully seize their property.
Balamurugan, serving as the Deputy Commissioner of Goods and Service Tax (GST) in Chennai, asserted that Nirmala Sitharaman had transformed the ED into a tool for enforcing BJP policies. He labeled the Finance Minister as "unfit to be the Finance Minister of India" and demanded her dismissal. The ED, on January 4, announced its intention to close the case against the farmers, but the closure has not been executed.
Meanwhile, it is worth noting that Balamurugan's wife, Dalit Pravina, is the legal representative for the two farmers. In his letter to the President, Balamurugan highlighted the incident as evidence of the Enforcement Directorate functioning as an extended arm of the BJP, particularly under Nirmala Sitharaman's leadership.
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Bengal polls: Mamata leads colourful roadshow in Kolkata’s Bhabanipur
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led a colourful roadshow in her Bhabanipur constituency in south Kolkata on Thursday.
TMC workers and leaders, including Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, was a part of the one-km roadshow, near her Kalighat residence.
People lined up on both sides of the street and greeted Banerjee, who waved at them and stopped at places to interact with the crowd, which included children and the elderly.
TMC flags, blue-and-white balloons, posters and banners dotted the streets through which the roadshow progressed.
Many onlookers also stood on rooftops and balconies, with the chief minister greeting them with folded hands.
Banerjee is pitted against BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari in Bhabanipur.
A voter turnout of 89.93 per cent was recorded till 5 pm, as polling was underway in 152 of the 294 assembly seats in phase 1. The next round will take place on April 29, while counting will be held on May 4.
