Did Chief Secretary ‘disrespect’ Vajpayee’s dignity by holding meeting on holiday?

5 Dariya News

Srinagar 18-Aug-2018

As India mourns the death of its ‘beloved’ Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and as a mark of respect for the departed soul, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir presently under Governor rule even declared the holiday on 17-08-2018, besides also called for seven days state mourning during which the state flag along with National flag will fly to half mast, but contrary to the government order of declaring holiday, the state’s Chief Secretary B V R Subramanyam held an official meeting at Jammu at the time when people across the world including a delegation from Pakistan were busy in its arrival to India to pay last respect to the departed soul.The officials privy to the meeting informed the CNS that after late night government order on 16-08-2018 regarding declaration of state holiday on Friday in memory of late Prime Minister of India, the officials feel that the scheduled meeting of the Chief Secretary at Jammu would have been postponed, but surprisingly—the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir decided to go ahead with the meeting.“The show must go on” the official privy to the meeting quoted/unquoted the Chief Secretary as having said.This happening happens at the time when BJP is in power at the center and has its say in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.It was not only Chief Secretary who decided to go ahead with his scheduled meeting, the election offices across the state of Jammu and Kashmir as well as nodal office of Chief Electoral Officer J&K also remained open much to the disappointment of the employees who were directed by the CEO J&K Shaleen Kabra, Senior IAS Officer to report the offices for election work.Despite repeated attempts from CNS to reach out the senior government functionaries over the issue, no one was available to comment on what is termed out to be a major goof up on part of the senior bureaucrats in J&K.  It is not the first time that any senior functionary has conducted meeting on State Holiday. In July 13, when State observed holiday to pay respect to 1931 martyrs, some top officials convened meetings at the civil secretariat. (CNS)