Old Facebook post returns to haunt bureaucrat

An old Facebook (FB) post suggesting a public movement against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by ex-collector of Barwani district Ajey Gangwar, who has been shifted to state secretariat for anti-saffron comment in the social networking site, has returned to haunt him.

Madhya Pradesh government on Monday served showcause notice on the IAS officer, who was divested of his charge to be posted in an inconsequential position as deputy secretary in state secretariat on Thursday apparently for posting a comment praising Jawaharlal Nehru in FB, seeking an explanation for his action which, it described, amounted to violation of provisions 3 (A) and 5 of All India Service (conduct) Rules, official sources told this newspaper here.

Mr Gangwar was, however, not available for his comment on the latest development.

According to official sources, Mr Gangwar posted an “objectionable” comment in his FB account while liking a post, an article critical of the PM’s foreign visits and “Make in India” policy, in the social networking site.

The FB post dated January 23, 2015, read, “Modi Ke Khilaf Jankranti Honi Chahiye (There should be a public movement against Modi)”.

“The notice served to Mr Gangwar has made mention of his FB post,” the officer added.

Earlier, the transfer order that shifted Mr Gangwar from his post of Barwarni district collector to state secretariat, made no mention of his pro-Nehru FB post. Mr Gangwar had served as personal secretary to former MP chief minister Digvijay Singh.