
(Image source from: Govs)
The Narendra Modi government seems to be removing every sign of the previous government. The first on target were the UPA-appointed Governors of some states. And now it's the turn of UPA-appointed officials in some autonomous bodies.
The first to face casualty among the autonomous bodies is the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The NDMA has nine members, out of which its Vice Chairman M Shashidhar Reddy and five of its members are on the way out. They have already resigned in compliance with the directives of the Union Home Ministry.
Reddy, who is NDMA’s second-in-command and a Congress leader from Telangana, confirmed his resignation, to allow the new government “reconstitute the NDMA”.
Others from NMDC who followed Reddy include former Director of Bhabha Automic Research Centre B Bhattacharjee, former CISF DG K M Singh, former Civil Aviation Secretary K N Shrivastava, former CBI Special Director K Salim Ali and Maj Gen (Retd) J K Bansal. Three other members - former Secretary, Department of Ocean Development, Harsh K Gupta , former CRPF DG J K Sinha and medical expert Muzaffar Ahmed have not resigned yet.
Others autonomous bodies to follow suit include the National Commission for Women, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), National Commission for SC/STs, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and National Commission for Safai Karmacharis.
The various ministries have been issued directives from the PMO to identify UPA appointees working in various institutions that come under the jurisdiction of the Centre. They have been asked to resign.
Modi-led NDA government is expected to ask independent directors of several financial institutions under centre to resign. These include directors of banks, public sector undertakings, various corporations and boards.
Chhattisgarh governor Shekhar Dutt has already resigned following direction received from Union Home Secretary Anil Goswamy. Nagaland governor Ashwani Kumar is likely to resign in a day or two. If he does, he'll be the third governor to do so.
According to reports, Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj made a courtesy call to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Speculations are abuzz that his visit was related to his exit. Anyway, Bhardwaj is scheduled to to retire on June 29.
These appointments (Governors and posts in autonomous bodies) are bestowed on senior politicians and “favourable” retired bureaucrats. The posts are viewed as reward as they offer power, minister’s rank, personal security and other perks.
(AW: Pratima Tigga)