BJP leaders celebrate, Shayin points to ‘political set-up’

The morning after he was removed as Chandigarh DC and repatriated to Haryana, Mohammad Shayin proceeded on personal leave for 25 days. But not before he said he had become a “victim of the political set-up” of the UT “in view of the upcoming Chandigarh market committee polls”.

The morning after he was removed as Chandigarh DC and repatriated to Haryana, Mohammad Shayin proceeded on personal leave for 25 days. But not before he said he had become a “victim of the political set-up” of the UT “in view of the upcoming Chandigarh market committee polls”.

There were, meanwhile, celebrations — drum-beating, laddoo distribution and even bursting of crackers — by BJP leaders over the repatriation of the 2002-batch IAS officer.

The Chandigarh market committee elections are on May 15. Shayin had on Tuesday night, after his removal, claimed that he had been opposed to the move for renewal of licences to 31 commission agents in the Sector-26 vegetable market. He had written to the adviser that K Narasimha, the agriculture secretary, had been issuing orders that were incorrect. There were also reports of a physical confrontation between him and Narasimha just before the ouster order.

Interestingly, observers said and even Shayin’s statement hinted that the 31 traders included BJP men. At the same time, Congress leaders said Shayin had actually okayed the renewal that he had been opposing on the grounds that the shops were in resumed buildings. But Shayin outright denied having favoured any renewal. Narasimha could not be contacted for comment.

Meanwhile, BJP leader and councillor Satinder Singh, who had filed several complaints against Shayin, including one of defamation, hosted a celebration. “The Chandigarh residents had been the sufferers due to the acts and misdeeds of Mohammad Shayin,” his press release said.

He demanded that decisions taken by Shayin be investigated. Local BJP chief Sanjay Tandon said the party had no formal comment to make, and the celebrations by some leaders too were “personal programmes”.