Karnataka IAS officers raise April 30 incident with CM and seek action against culprits
BENGALURU:
In an incident that has angered and dismayed the state’s bureaucrats, IAS officer V Yeshwanth Gurukar (Karnataka cadre 2010), who is currently on probation, was manhandled by Bommanahalli BJP MLA Satish Reddy’s men in the Bommanahalli zone Covid war room on April 30.
The Karnataka IAS Officers’ Association has condemned the attack and has submitted a letter of protest over the issue to Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa.
IAS Officers’ Association president Vandita Sharma, in a one-page memorandum to the CM, has said, without naming the MLA concerned, that ‘representatives’ of an MLA manhandled and abused Gurukar in public, and has referred to video evidence of the incident.
Officer objected to MLA aide’s presence
As per sources, the incident took place on April 30 when Gurukar objected to an aide of the MLA sitting in the war room. The person was ejected from the war room, but returned later with around 100 others and assaulted Gurukar.
Sharma, in her letter to the CM, noted that Karnataka was reeling under the second wave of Covid-19 and “the government machinery under your leadership is putting in its best efforts to cope with the situation. All the IAS officers of the cadre are fully involved in the efforts being made to handle the pandemic. They are working across their assigned posts and are putting their best foot forward.”
The memorandum notes, “In the midst of all this, an unfortunate incident has happened with one of our members Shri V Yeshwanth on 30th April in the Bommanahalli war room. The IAS Officers’ Association of Karnataka would like to express its strong protest against this incident of V Yeshwanth’s manhandling.
‘Officer pressured to give beds’
“V.Yeshwanth was part of a team of officers who had obtained additional hospital beds from private hospitals. By initiating action in accordance with the law, the team of officers had obtained beds from private hospitals. When pressure was brought upon the officer to yield the additional beds to the representatives of the Honourable Member of the Legislative Assembly, this was not agreed to. As a result of this, Shri V Yeshwant was manhandled and abused in public, with a video available as evidence of the incident.
“In the face of unprecedented challenges, IAS officers in Kamataka have been working tirelessly and with utmost commitment to discharge their duties and tackle the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic. At such a time, and when the people of Karnataka are suffering utmost hardship during the pandemic, it is not right to behave in an inappropriate and rude manner with officers. More so, it is unacceptable to manhandle an officer who is discharging his duty without fear or favour.
Call for FIR
“The Association strongly protests against the incident and requests that police action should be taken in accordance with law by booking an FIR against those found guilty of manhandling the officer and preventing him from the discharge of his duties.”
MLA not reachable
Bommanahalli MLA Satish Reddy is also seen in the video of the incident. When TheBengaluruLive tried to contact Reddy for his reaction, his phone was not reachable.
