Congress backs Haryana government's action against Ashok Khemka

NEW DELHI: Congress today sought to justify Haryana government's action against IAS officer Ashok Khemka in connection with the Robert Vadra-DLF land deal case, saying the issue was different from that of Durga Shakti Nagpal, a UP official against whose suspension Sonia Gandhi had spoken up.

On questions that the party had strongly opposed the suspension of Nagpal but is silent on the charge sheet against Khemka, Congress spokesman Bhakt Charan Das said that "these are totally different issues."

Nagal was unnecessarily punished on administrative grounds, therefore the party had raised the issue, he said here.

Nagpal, a 2010 batch IAS officer, was suspended on July 27 ostensibly for ordering demolition of a wall of an under-construction mosque without following the due process in Gautam Budh Nagar district.

Noting that Khemka was looking after five responsibilities, Das said one or two of them were taken away, which was the "administrative discipline framework" of the government.

Khemka, a 1991 batch IAS officer, has been charge sheeted by Haryana government in connection with cancellation of land deal between Robert Vadra and DLF in October last year.

He had cancelled the mutation on October 15, 2012, which the state government had alleged was an administratively improper step since he stood transferred as Managing Director of Haryana Seed Development Corporation. He had also been accused of selectively singling out a particular mutation.