Centre transfers Bengal chief secretary to Delhi, sets up faceoff with Mamata | Kolkata - Hindustan Times
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Centre transfers Bengal chief secretary to Delhi, sets up faceoff with Mamata

By, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
May 28, 2021 10:45 PM IST

Centre orders Bengal chief secretary to report to Delhi after row over Cyclone Yaas review meeting

The central government on Friday asked the West Bengal government to relieve West Bengal government’s chief secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay and asked him to report to the Department of Personnel and Training by 10 am on May 31.

Chief minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee with Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and state secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay (R) at a control room for Cyclone Yaas at State Secretariat building Nabanna in Kolkata. (HT Photo)
Chief minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee with Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and state secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay (R) at a control room for Cyclone Yaas at State Secretariat building Nabanna in Kolkata. (HT Photo)

“I am directed to inform that the appointments committee of the Cabinet has approved the placement of the services of Sri Alapan Bandopadhyay, IAS, (WB:1987) with the Government of India as provisions of Rule 6(1) of the Indian Administrative Service (Cadre) Rules, 1954, with immediate effect,” the letter undersigned by Anshuman Mishra, under secretary at the Union ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions said.

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The Centre’s order comes after a row broke out between the Centre and the West Bengal government after it was reported that the Prime Minister who was at Kalaikunda was kept waiting and the chief minister and the state chief secretary met him only for 15 minutes and handed him the reports. The chief minister later said that she had left only after seeking PM Modi's permission and also pointed out that all parties were aware that Mamata Banerjee had meetings lined up. Mamata along with Alapan Bandyopadhyay took stock of the post-cyclone situation in Hingalganj, Hasnabad, Sandeshkhali, Pinakha and other areas on Friday. She also took an aerial survey in cyclone-hit areas of South 24 Parganas and Digha.

Bandopadhyay was due to retire on May 31 after completion of 60 years of age but his tenure was extended by three months by the Bengal chief minister earlier this week. Alapan Bandhpadhyay who, is a 1987-batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre, got an extension due to his experience in handling the Covid-19 pandemic in Bengal.

"Provided that in case of any disagreement, the matter shall be decided by the central government and the state government or state governments concerned shall give effect to the decision of the central government," the letter further said.

The Trinamool Congress has called the move 'anti-Bengal' and said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is indulging in dirty politics.

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