A GR, issued on Friday, doesn't spare even the offices of ministers and ministers of state. Though it doesn't specify what action it would take in case of non-compliance, the latest directive has surprised many.
The Maharashtra government wants all government and semi-government offices across the state to hang a photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A GR, issued on Friday, doesn't spare even the offices of ministers and ministers of state. Though it doesn't specify what action it would take in case of non-compliance, the latest directive has surprised many.
For one, rules asking photographs of the incumbent President, Prime Minister and other personalities to be hung at all government and semi-government offices across India are already there.
The Bombay High Court, and the offices of the Auditor General, Lok Ayukta and district collectors have been sent copies of the GR issued by the General Administration Department (GAD).
The GAD has even specified the size of the photograph (16 X 20 inches), with the instruction that a frame has to be there around the photo. The photographs will be available at the offices of the government press in Mumbai, Pune, Kolhapur, Aurangabad and Nagpur.
The directive comes at a time when the PM has already completed almost one and a half years in office. What seems to have prompted the government to issue such a directive now is the apparent resistance from bureaucrats.
"Despite protocol, many government offices don't have the PM's photograph. This is due to a personal disliking of the babus of the concerned departments. The GR aims to enforce the implementation of the rule," said a highly placed source in Mantralaya.
The move has drawn quick reaction from political parties. Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam said: "This order shows the over-enthusiasm of the BJP in asserting their power over the administration."
NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik linked the move to the CM's admission about non-cooperation of the babus. "This GR only proves the extent of displeasure of the babus with the BJP."
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had admitted last week that the state bureaucracy was not fully cooperating with the new government. The government had already initiated against about 800 bureaucrats.
The GAD portfolio is with the chief minister. Milind Mhaiskar, secretary at the CMO, didn't respond.
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