Thiruvananthapuram: Finally, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan seems to have woken up to the damage the internecine fights within the bureaucracy can cause his five month old government. The chief minister told Assembly on Thursday that the government would act against publicity crazy officials who were speaking to media in violation of the code of conduct laid down for officials.
While replying to a submission by M Ummer of the Muslim League, the chief minister said: “We politicians are among those who look for maximum publicity. Officials work with us closely and they might acquire some of the habits of politicians. But such tendencies among the government officials will be dealt with strictly and considered violation of service rules.” The chief minister spoke strongly against the media mania among a section of officials.
Though the chief minister didn’t refer to any official, he was clearly hinting at the recent developments involving senior officers including vigilance director Jacob Thomas. The media had gone to the town over vigilance director’s letter requesting the government to relieve him from the post, then about phone tapping and e-mail snooping and the last one on the vigilance raid carried out on K M Abraham’s house.
The government believes that there is a pattern behind the recent episodes. It is felt that information is being selectively shared with the media especially on controversial issues which are blown out of proportion causing embarrassment to the government. The chief minister is conscious of the damage that the ugly spat between IAS officers and vigilance director is causing to the government.
Moreover being the minister in charge of the all India service officers in the state, it is also his responsibility to rein them in. Sources said by sounding the warning against “media mania” the chief minister has sent out a strong message that violation of service rules will not be tolerated. He is firm on not allowing his government to get embroiled in needless controversies.
At a time when the LDF government has launched four mega missions covering housing, environment-waste management-organic farming, education and health, it requires the full cooperation of the bureaucrats for the success of these pro people initiatives. The government has set definite targets under these missions; houses for all homeless families in five years, total revamp of government hospitals, 1000 government schools to be raised to international level and comprehensive waste management and environment programme.
