Why did State IAS-IPS officers meet Amit Shah, riled Gogoi seeks report

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, April 21: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has sought a report from Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia on the rumoured meeting of some of the State's IAS and IPS officers with BJP president Amit Shah in New Delhi last week.

"I am not at all happy. I have asked the Chief Secretary to give a report... under what circumstances they met Amit Shah," Gogoi told The Sentinel.

"The civil service officers owe their loyalty to the Constitution and not to any party. They ought to be neutral. Their duty is to give service to the people irrespective of whichever party is in power," an apparently angry Chief Minister said, claiming that the officers have exposed themselves by their act.

Gogoi insisted that no State officer has ever met Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi, nor will the Congress party encourage such "activities".

Asked if Shah had summoned the officers, Gogoi said, "He can't do it. Even if he does, the officers are not bound to meet him."

According to service rules, the civil service officers can meet the Prime Minister or the Union ministers, but cannot meet political party presidents without informing the concerned authorities, primarily the Chief Secretary.

It is learnt that around five IAS-IPS officers of the State met Shah at his New Delhi residence last week, amid speculations that the BJP is in a better position to form the next government in the State.

The details of the meeting are not yet known, but it is understood that the officers did not inform the State authorities about the meeting.