Chandigarh: Differences surfaced in Haryana BJP over the transfer of whistle blower IAS officer Ashok Khemka, with cabinet minister Anil Vij saying he stands by Khemka and chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar calling the transfer “routine.” Health minister Anil Vij said, “I am totally with Khemka. I am with him since he fought the battle against corruption. I will stand by him...comment about this after talking to the CM.”
Khattar, who was in Hisar, said, “Jo sarkar ko jahan aavashyakta hoti hai, wahin harek adhikari ko bulaya jata hai. Hamari aavashyakta us hisab se jaisi hai, waisa hamney lagaya hai (government appoints any officer as per its requirements. We have posted him as per our requirements).” He said Khemka was a good and honest officer.
The 1991 batch IAS officer, Khemka has faced 46 transfers during 22 years of service. He reacted to his transfer with a tweet, “Moment is truly painful.” The government has not given any reason for his transfer, but sources said that the influential transporters' lobby was unhappy with the officers' order for checking of trucks plying the inter-state route, especially those moving between Haryana and Rajasthan.
