BDPO issues letter to back protests, shifted

Chandigarh, September 19

A letter issued by a Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) in Mansa district, urging officials to support the farmer protests, has left the government red-faced.

In a face-saving exercise, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh ordered withdrawal of the letter.

On Saturday, the Sardulgarh BDPO had issued a letter, claiming that the protests against the farm Bills were being organised by the Punjab Government.

Announcing a protest dharna on September 21, the BDPO had issued a letter asking all panchayat secretaries under his block to inform all sarpanches about the same. He had also wrongly claimed that ministers or MLAs would join the protests, said a spokesperson, rejecting any such plans by the state government.

Taking serious cognisance of the matter, the Chief Minister today ordered shifting of the Sardulgarh BDPO to headquarters, and immediate withdrawal of the letter. — TNS