FM pulls up civil administration

AMRITSAR, April 27: District civil authorities of Amritsar faced the wrath of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh for not observing protocol during the stay of Chief Minister and other ministers here in connection with the Prime Minister’s visit.

The finance minister reportedly summoned Deputy Commissioner Amarjit Singh and Assistant Commissioner (General) A.P.S.Sandhu to the circuit house late last night and pulled them up for violating the protocol and lacking coordination with the visiting ministers regarding arrangements of the Prime Minister’s visit. Kanwaljit Singh, who appeared to be very upset, was overheard shouting at the deputy commissioner, “Nobody has taught you about civil service rules. You don’t know the protocol. I will report it to the Chief Secretary”.

Sandhu who wanted to be heard first was told by the minister to sit aside and let the deputy commissioner give clarification. The finance minister told the deputy commissioner that he had been receiving a number of complaints about working of district administration.

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The finance minister was reported to have taken strong notice when civil authorities had not paid any heed to certain ministers who wanted to be briefed about arrangements of the visit.

Earlier, the Chief Minister had called the deputy commissioner to explain when certain quarters informed the former about postponement of an auction of improvement trust shopping complex by the latter, giving reference of the Chief Minister.