Fatehgarh Sahib, November 15, 2019: All officers of rural development department of this district under the leadership of Jagwinderjit Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), have gone on an indefinite pen down strike and decided to boycott government work.
They are protesting against the alleged unparliamentary language used by Deputy Commissioner Amrit Kaur Gill towards the officers, threatening them and terming 550th Parkash Purb as political gimmick. On her part, the DC has refuted all the allegations.
Deepinder Singh, Commissioner, Patiala Division, who was deputed by the government to resolve the issue held separate meetings with both the warring factions in DC office here today, but nothing came out of it.
Har Kamal Singh, who has been made the spokesperson of the Joint Action Committee to deal with the issue said that there will be complete pen down strike in Patiala Division and the representatives of DDPO Association, Rural Development Officers Association, Gram Sewak Union and MANREGA Association will meet Cabinet minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa in this regard on Monday.
He said that officers can't work in such circumstances and demanded that either DC or all the rural development officers including ADC (D), all the five Block Development Panchyat Officers and District Development Panchyat Officer should be transferred.
He said boycott of government work will continue till DC apologises for using unparliamentary language and terming 550th Parkash Purb celebrations as political gimmick.
While talking to the media, Jagwinderjit Singh alleged that yesterday during 550th Parkash Purb celebration function at historical Gurudwara Iserhail, the DC called him on his cell phone and asked him about uploading of cases, where stubble was not burnt, to the portal.
He said he told DC that the co-operative department has to upload on the PM portal as they have password and ID and in spite of their strike he got the work done and uploading was started.
The ADC alleged that DC used unparliamentarily language against the Rural Development Officers and said, “I know how to get the work done by giving them a thrashing with a shoe”.
He said it is unbecoming on the part of an officer to use such derogatory language against anyone.
He further alleged that DC hurt their religious sentiments as she termed the 550th Parkash Purb celebration at historical Gurudwara Iserhail where Cabinet Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu, Dr Amar Singh MP and Kuljit Nagra Advisor to CM were present as ‘political gimmick’ and asked all officers to immediately rush back to their offices.
DC Ms Amrit Kaur Gill
Deepinder Singh said that he has been deputed by the government to sort out the issue he has spoken to both the parties and will submit his report to the government.Talking to Babushahi.com , Deepinder Singh expressed hope to sort out the issue amicably.
When contacted, DC Ms Gill refused to comment .