Bengaluru: The sudden transfer of chief secretary of the Labour Department P Manivannan, who had stood up for workers during the Corona lockdown, has given rise to objection by the working class.
While IAS officer Maheshwar Rao has been given the charge in the Department, the member of the Corona Warriors team have expressed shock on hearing of Manivannan's transfer. They have even declared that they were withdrawing from any kind of Corona-related work.
The ire is being expressed even on social media, with the #BringBackManivannan trending. The labour unions are demanding a withdrawal of the transfer, warning of staging a protest otherwise.
Manivannan had recently warned of taking action against factory owners who failed to pay the April salary to their workers. The government is being accused of transferring the officer due to pressure from industrialists.
Manivannan had also objected to the government decision to pass an ordinance on the amendment to the labour law to increase the working hours from eight to 12 without consulting leaders of labour unions.
The government has said that the transfer was due to complaints received against Manivannan on irregularities in supply of grocery kits, but the protesters have pointed out that the officer had refused legislators supply of ration kits, calling this a reason for transfer.
AITUC general secretary M D Harigovind said that the industrialists had objected to opening of an online portal for workers' complaints regarding pay and demanded Manivannan's transfer. “The government has agreed to the demand,” he concurred.
The Aam Aadmi Party and the CPM too have criticised Manivannan's transfer after he had worked effectively in the state government's struggle against spread of Corona.
In Karnataka an IAS officer has been removed from current role as Principal Secretary of the Labour Department as well as the Information and Public Relations Department.
— AutoRaja (@AutoRaja1212) May 12, 2020
Reason: He was sincere & hard working@CMofKarnataka @IASassociation#BringBackCaptain #BringBackManivannan pic.twitter.com/CRaFaWZBeO
In Karnataka an IAS officer has been removed. He is honest and hardworking person. Karnataka government should bring them back on duty. #BringBackCaptain #BringBackManivannan pic.twitter.com/lfHMBpFcDN
— Kartik Sharma (@kartiks2607) May 12, 2020
Our Journey as a Corona Warrior (Citizen Volunteer) started from this tweet. From day 1 we have worked under the guidance of Capt.
— Vijay Doddaveeraiah (@vDoddaveeraiah) May 11, 2020
& we have accomplished a lot by helping public during this Pandemic. #BringBackManivannan pic.twitter.com/al4629fKAR
Karnataka Govt decides to transfer IAS officer who was good with communication. @mani1972ias who was Principal Secretary, Labour Department.
— Gulbarga Temperature (@GulbargaTemper1) May 11, 2020
Earlier It was @mmiask Mohammad Mohsin IAS,
&
Now It's @mani1972ias Captain Manivannan !#BringBackManivannan pic.twitter.com/BjMONPR4K9
Just some pictures that speak volumes. Volunteers came together only because of one honest officer's clarion call. @mani1972ias @BSYBJP @PMOIndia @narendramodi #BringBackManivannan #BringBackCaptain #CaptainManivannan pic.twitter.com/uh5HqoQ9jW
— Vasudha Varma (@VarmaVasudha) May 12, 2020
#BringBackCaptain @BSYBJP @HMOIndia
— Pradeep Kumar (@pradeepzone) May 11, 2020
this is not the right time to do such circus
We the people of KA need him in DIPR#Bringbackmanivannan@nimmasuresh @Swamy39 @bunty6510
This tweet from @mani1972ias sir is the sole reason why manyof us volunteered and having personally seen his incredible leadership I urge his reinstatement immediately.@DIPR_COVID19 @BSYBJP #bringbackmanivannan #bringbackcaptain pic.twitter.com/IgRdRqXb1I
— suhas (@suhas_azadi) May 11, 2020
In Karnataka an IAS officer has been removed from current role as Principal Secretary of the Labour Department as well as the Information and Public Relations Department.
— Divya Singh Rajput (@DivyaSinhRajput) May 12, 2020
Reason: He was sincere & hard working@CMofKarnataka @IASassociation#BringBackCaptain #BringBackManivannan pic.twitter.com/4u3SjRE6jP
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Lucknow (Farrukhabad): A viral video has surfaced showing a 16-year-old son of a BJP worker allegedly casting eight votes to the saffron party during the ongoing general elections in Uttar Pradesh. The video has sparked controversy, and the opposition has urged for prompt action from the Election Commission of India, reports scroll.in.
The video shared by the Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav on micro-blogging site ‘X’, showed the youngster recording himself while casting multiple times in a series of instances. The incident reportedly took place in Khiri Pamaran village, which falls under the Aliganj Assembly constituency within the Farrukhabad parliamentary seat. Mukesh Rajput, the sitting MP, is the BJP candidate in this constituency. Polling in Farrukhabad occurred on May 13 during the fourth phase of the general election.
In the viral video, the youngster is seen casting eight votes in total, all for the BJP, one by one with different clippings.
The youngster in the video has been identified as Rajan Singh Thakur, confirmed his father, Anil Singh Thakur to the Scroll.in. Anil Singh Thakur is the gram pradhan (village head) of Khiri Pamaran and a member of the BJP.
Anil defending his son told the Scroll that the ‘Video misrepresented his son,’ and claimed that the voting was done when the machine was being tested in some instances and other clipping of him voting on behalf of mentally and physically disabled voters was merged and made into a video.
Despite the Anil's caims, the video has drawn significant criticism. Subhash Chandra Prajapati, the additional district magistrate of Farrukhabad, confirmed to the Scroll that the administration will file a case soon. He mentioned that the returning officer is investigating the matter following a directive from the chief electoral officer in Lucknow.
The opposition has been vocal in its criticism, with Akhilesh Yadav demanding action from the Election Commission. In his social media post, Yadav accused the BJP of undermining the electoral process and described the party's booth committee as a "loot committee." The Congress party also called on the Election Commission to take action, in a ‘X’ post the party wrote, “Dear Election Commission…are you watching..a boy is voting 8-8 times ... .at least wake up now.”
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, took to ‘X’ to express, “Fearing and seeing their defeat, the BJP is attempting to undermine democracy by pressuring government machinery to deny the mandate. The Congress expects all officers performing election duties to remember their constitutional responsibilities despite any pressure from those in power. Otherwise, once the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc government is formed, actions will be taken to ensure that anyone will think ten times before violating their 'Oath to the Constitution'."
Following the video's circulation, Naval Kishor Shakya, the Samajwadi Party candidate in Farrukhabad, filed a complaint with the district election officer. Shakya's complaint alleges that Rajan Singh Thakur cast votes after snatching voter information slips from other voters and that he was assisted by Dinesh Thakur, the local police station's station house officer. Shakya has called for re-polling at the affected polling center.
In a related incident earlier in May, Gujarat Police arrested two BJP workers for allegedly casting bogus votes and live-streaming the act on social media in the Dahod constituency. The Election Commission conducted re-polling at the affected booth following the incident.
The opposition INDIA bloc, including the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, has repeatedly accused the Election Commission of failing to take prompt action against election model code of conduct violations.
अपनी हार सामने देख कर भाजपा जनादेश को झुठलाने के लिए सरकारी तंत्र पर दबाव बना कर लोकतंत्र को लूटना चाहती है।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 19, 2024
कांग्रेस चुनावी ड्यूटी कर रहे सभी अधिकारियों से यह अपेक्षा करती है कि वो सत्ता के दबाव के सामने अपनी संवैधानिक ज़िम्मेदारी न भूलें।
वरना INDIA की सरकार बनते ही ऐसी… https://t.co/fk4wXL8QZy