UP Politics Heats Up Over IPS Ashish Gupta's VRS. Akhilesh Yadav Says Ignoring Senior Officers is a Matter of Concern, Alleges Discrimination for Desired Postings.
UP News: The decision of Ashish Gupta, a senior IPS officer of the 1989 batch in the Uttar Pradesh cadre, to take voluntary retirement (VRS) has sparked a new debate in the state's politics. While technically it is a VRS, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has termed it "voluntary retirement under involuntary circumstances."
Akhilesh Yadav Targets the Government
In a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Akhilesh Yadav launched a scathing attack on the Uttar Pradesh government. He wrote, "It is extremely worrying that the most senior officers of the state police, who have been denied important positions, are being forced to take retirement. This demoralizes honest and dedicated officers, directly impacting the state's law and order and the general public."
Allegations of Ignoring Seniority
The former Chief Minister alleged that the tradition of posting based on seniority has been abolished in Uttar Pradesh. He said, "When the government doesn't differentiate between senior and junior officers, what is the justification for a seniority list? If there were changes in 1-2 positions, it would be understandable, but when 10-12 senior officers are sidelined and preferred officers are deployed, it seems like a decision made solely for political gain."
Appointments Based on Personal Preferences and Ideology?
Without naming anyone, Akhilesh Yadav accused the government of basing appointments not on merit, experience, and job requirements, but on personal preferences, ideology, or internal power dynamics. He said the government should immediately change this attitude; otherwise, it will demoralize the entire bureaucracy and affect the governance system.
Background of VRS: Ashish Gupta's Career and Controversy
Ashish Gupta is a 1989 batch IPS officer and was holding the rank of DG. Currently, he served as the DG Rules and Manual in Uttar Pradesh. After a long period of deputation with the central government, upon his return to the state, he was not given a posting for six months. Later, he was appointed to the relatively less significant post of DG Rules and Manual.
Tenure at NATGRID and BSF
In 2014, Ashish Gupta was sent to NATGRID on central deputation. He served there as ADG for about eight years. However, in 2022, he was suddenly removed and sent to the BSF. Six months later, he was recalled to the state. There is also speculation that he made some comments in a WhatsApp group of officials at NATGRID, which the government took seriously, resulting in repercussions for him.
Dissatisfaction Over Lack of Desired Posting
Sources say Ashish Gupta expected a position commensurate with his experience and seniority in the state but was not given the expected responsibility. This is why he applied for VRS two months ago, which has now been approved. He will retire in June 2025.
Accusation of Persecuting Officers by the BJP Government
In his post, Akhilesh Yadav also stated that the BJP government targets select officers and harasses them or their families through social media and other means. He said, "This trend must stop. If the BJP cannot reward honesty, it should at least not scorn it."
