- I am not resigning accepting defeat but I am quitting in protest. The DC must set right this behaviour or else she must leave Mysuru
- The DC cannot set right the differences with political leaders but instead she is targeting me
- The DC is egoistic and no district should see a DC like her
Mysore/Mysuru: In a sudden turn of events in Mysuru’s COVID management, Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) Commissioner Shilpa Nag resigned from her post and the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and sent the resignation letter to State Chief Secretary. She announced her resignation at a press conference called last afternoon where she cited ‘harassment’ by Deputy Commissioner Rohini Sindhuri, also an IAS Officer.
The resignation, however, brought out the lack of coordination in pandemic management at a time when Mysuru is seeing more than 1,500 cases on a daily average and an alarming death rate.
The administration’s chinks in the armour were there for everyone to see as allegations and counter-allegations unfolded in full public view at the emergency press conference that was actually called to inform about the contagion management.
18-page hand-written resignation
Displaying the 18-page hand-written resignation letter, Shilpa Nag said that she was resigning in protest against the harassment meted out to her and her staff at MCC in the hands of the DC. For the record, Sindhuri is a 2009 batch IAS Officer while Shilpa Nag belongs to the 2014 batch. The coordination and camaraderie between the District Administration and the MCC has hit nadir and hence the resignation.
“I kindly request you to accept the resignation and relieve me from moral dilemma, pain and sorrow,” Shilpa stated in the letter. The resignation comes at a time when the DC is at loggerheads with elected representatives including K.R. Nagar MLA S.R. Mahesh and Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha, who have gone to the media levelling charges against Rohini Sindhuri on various fronts including the actual death and positivity rate, rural visits and the construction of swimming pool and a gym at DC’s residence, a heritage building.
The DC is egoistic and has a cheap mentality. She should not make Mysuru a scapegoat. I am not resigning accepting defeat but I am quitting in protest. The DC must set right this behaviour or else she must leave Mysuru. She is discrediting Mysureans and Mysuru city. If you are not leaving, I will. There were reports of the DC constructing a swimming pool and a gym at DC’s residence which is a heritage building. As the MCC Commissioner I could have served a notice on the DC. But I did not for the only reason that COVID must be our focus. The DC cannot set right the differences with political leaders but instead she is targeting me. I have been a victim of this target since many days. She even questioned my presence in the War Room. As a Commissioner don’t I have the powers to visit even a War Room?
— Shilpa Nag, Mysuru City Corporation Commissioner
Harassment & humiliation
“There is harassment and humiliation by the DC. I have no mental peace, no proper sleep and food for the past one week. I have had enough. I have taken the decision with utmost sorrow. One should not put the district or city at stake for one’s pride. The DC has been humiliating MCC staff and has threatened to suspend them,” Shilpa Nag said.
A visibly upset IAS Officer Shilpa Nag vented her ire against Rohini Sindhuri and said, “I am being targeted and being portrayed as a failure and doing nothing in the fight against the pandemic. There has been a lack of cooperation from the District Administration. There has been a separate criterion for the areas coming under MCC limits and rural areas.”
Turning emotional and trying hard to prevent tears, Shilpa Nag said, “There is a limit for one’s patience and nobody can stop when it bursts. I am under severe mental pressure for the last one week. I am proud of the people of Mysuru and I am deeply pained as I am being targeted in the name of caste. The DC is egoistic and no district should see a DC like her (Rohini Sindhuri).”
CSR fund utilisation
“The DC has ordered me not to obtain Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. An Assistant Environment Engineer in the MCC took the initiative to raise funds under CSR and over Rs. 12.3 crore has been collected so far and with that funds, the MCC is managing the pandemic including the setting up of COVID Mitra and other campaigns that are mainly focussed on all the 65 Wards. But the DC has targeted Assistant Environment Engineer (AEE) and is preparing a file to suspend him. Rohini Sindhuri even summoned the AEE to her office and insulted him. Sadly when the AEE’s brother-in-law died, he took only three hours’ leave and was back to work,” Shilpa Nag said.
Map of contention
The actual flashpoint came after Rohini Sindhuri released a ward-wise map of MCC affected by the pandemic. As per the map dated June 1, most of the 65 Wards of the MCC were marked red but a day before that, on May 31, Shilpa Nag had released a map that showed a majority of wards in green with only two Wards in red.
Holding the map in her hand, Shilpa Nag said, “As of May 31, only two Wards of the MCC were under the red zone. But according to the DC’s report on Wednesday, a majority of the Wards are shown under red zone. The DC, as the head of the District, is trying to create a fearful atmosphere. The DC is portraying that the MCC has not done anything though we have taken up several initiatives. We have launched several initiatives that attracted the attention of national media including the Telecare facility. We are being targeted as soon as the limelight was on the MCC. The DC wants to claim credit for the initiatives.”
Not only this, the DC is constantly calling the higher-ups in the Government including the Urban Development Department and has been complaining to them that no work is being done in the MCC, Shilpa Nag claimed. “She is intentionally creating a bad atmosphere without knowing the ground reality. There is no conducive environment to work in Mysuru though the DC is not my reporting officer,” Shilpa said.
“If the DC has any personal grudge against me let her take it out on me but why target the officials who are all working non-stop to combat the pandemic since the second wave started The atmosphere in Mysuru was too stifling to function anymore,” the Officer alleged.
It is very unfortunate that two officers spearheading war against COVID are at loggerheads and has resulted in one resigning. Hope there would be proper recourse to their differences and matter resolved amicably.
This is Yellamma Jatre of public servants! Now we have DC , MCC commissioners, Please call the Mayor, MUDA chairman. and resolve. Have Just 1 Servant . That is enough. Too much expense for the tax payer
I have no idea what kind of training they got in Dehradun or Mussouri or wherever? First thing for IAS officers is to get trained in controlling emotions. Second one is to act in a mature way since the IAS cadre officer is about functioning in multi stress and other environments. From what I heard, DC is trying to put her hand into hornest nest of land enroachment by the local politicians and that land sharks are barking at her and also used other lady officer to act against her.. I am not surprised if she were transferred in no time. It will be a tremendous loss for Mysore.
I have no idea what kind of training they got in Dehradun or Mussouri or wherever? First thing for IAS officers is to get trained in controlling emotions. Second one is to act in a mature way since the IAS cadre officer is about functioning in multi stress and other environments. From what I heard, DC is trying to put her hand into hornest nest of land enroachment by the local politicians and that land sharks are barking at her and also used other lady officer to act against her.. I am not surprised if she were transferred in no time. It will be a tremendous loss for Mysore.
Too many IAS officers for Mysuru city. Ego is playing a role. Two swords cannot be in the same quiver. If these two female officers cannot meet the mind, it is the duty of the CS to allot proper posting. Ofcourse CS will listen to CM and CM to PM. No one can help this city, state, & country.
There seems to be something more than meets the eye. Why should the MCC commissioner resign from the IAS?? She could have gone through the proper channels and requested for a transfer to another state. Further, at these difficult time of a pandemic, its embarassing to find that the beurocrats are engaged in washing their dirty linen in public. Added to this, the elected representatives are also at loggerheads with the DC. The Karnataka CS or the concerned state minister must step in and sort out this whole mess. Ultimately, the DC, the local elected representatives, and the state govt must realise that they are not serving the people, for which they have been appointed or elected.
I saw some strange news in some pepers that the land sharks are behind targetting of DC. It seems DC is very strict in dealing with land grabbing by influential and political people. If we observe the first person who started blaming the DC has lots of lands and involved in real estate dealings. His land grabbing activity has been stopped by the DC and hence he started irking the DC at every forum he attended. Still, the DC has not budged for any pressure. Since most of Mysore’s political representatives have big chunks of lands and are involved in real estate development in ellegal ways also. Thats the reason these people want the DC to be transferred from Mysore so that they can enjoy the benefits of their land grabbing activities!
All political parties are upset no doubt there is more to this than meets the eye. Anyway all these politicians are the same shame on them. Even the young mysore MP, I am not impressed.
MCC commissioner is a pawn used by political masters ! she is made scapegoat.
Sindhuri will ruin MP and MLA’s illegal activities if she is continued in Mysore, by hook or crook they need her to be removed as soon as possible, she has become nightmares’ for MP and MLA.
we need such officers in system !
With Due respect to Shilpa Nag, she should be transferred to suitable posting like Fisheries, Horticulture where there is no peer pressure !
Have lot of respect for Our CS, when he was officer serving in districts he was not even using government car for personnel ! Hard time for him whether he will budge for political pressure or overcome it by not transferring Rohini !
Crying babies like MCC commissioner should not be given upper hand as they will continue to use that mode to achieve their goals. Appropriate forum are there for these types of complaints to be addressed and not in front of media. It is no surprise that the politicians are using MCC commissioner. Her visit to Mutt before meeting CS adds another layer of suspense.
We need the current DC to stay put in our city.
It is very crystal clear that land sharks are behind the entire episode of Rohini Sinduri. When ever a DC questions land grabbers in Mysore, immediately the grabbers fights against the DC and tells the CM to transfer DC immediately. What were these grabbers doing when the construction of swimming pool and Gym was going on. Why they went against DC now after the construction of pool & gym. Why Shilpa Nag should resign for a silly reason. Shilpa should show her mettle and continue to work with all dedication if she is sincere. Shilpa should not run away from the scene giving wrong reasons.
Earlier, for the same land problem, DC Shikha was transferred. Now it is Sinduri being targeted. There are many many land grabbers in Mysore, who want only land, land and land. What will they do for these lands after their death. These grabbers also want to close down the fantastic racecourse and build choultries, buildings, etc. Who ever is on the wrong path and involved in FRAUD, should be punished severely, no matter who they are & however big they are. I strongly feel Hon’ble CM Yediyurappa should continue both the IAS officers and tell them to work efficiently and also at the same time to catch the LAND MAFIA in Mysore. Let the public of Mysore know who are these BIG LAND SHARKS !!!