Threat dangling over the Harish Rawat Government with rebel Congress MlAs breaking away from the party to form a separate group and acting in collusion with the BJP, a number of senior administrative and police officers, now enjoying unhindered power under the protective patronage of the present dispensation, looked grimly worried on Saturday. Many of them sound apprehensive that tables might turn on them once the regime change occurs.
The administrative and police top brass remained glued to the television sets as the high drama kept on unfolding inside the House on Friday, plunging the Harish Rawat Government in a deep crisis. Feeling insecure in the knowledge that the fall of the present dispensation was imminent with as many as nine MlAs, including a minister, breaking away from the Congress to pull down the government, they were found gravely engaged in speculating over what was being kept in store for the government that showered immense patronage on them. They were all more apprehensive as they are sure that the new dispensation- if the moving matrix of things culminate in the fall of the present Government- would not be kind to them because of their close proximity to the ruling dispensation.
There are reasons for them to worry. It is a common refrain in the BJP camp that the State police tend to bend backwards and even crawl at the behest of those running the government. BJP says the top brass, eager to humor the ruling party politicians, is used to going out of its ways to spite the BJP. Incident of the injured horse is being cited by the saffron camp as a glaring instance of the cops acting under the command of the ruling politicians. Its MlA Ganesh Joshi has been arrested by police in contravention of the laws to please the Congress, BJP leaders allege.
Some of the worried officers are of the view that President’s rule is what is awaiting the State till the time the Assembly is dissolved to make way for election. “This prospect is not palatable for us either. BJP ruling the Centre is known for its inclination to foist those close to it at the top echelons of administration and police. Swords of dismissal or transfer are dangling over our heads,” said a senior cop.
A senior police officer said those working in the districts might be transferred with the transfer of the district chiefs.
Notably, there are instances galore of the administrative officers being transferred to the posts of their choice as rewards of their unflinching loyalty to the present dispensation. “We wonder whether they would be able to jump ship overnight,” said an administrative officer.
However, at another remove, some administrative officers who have been sidelined are seeing ray of hope in the expected regime change. “Nemesis is what is befalling them,” said one of the disgruntled administrative officers.