BJP hails MHA’s decision to transfer Delhi govt officer after controversy over misuse of sports facilities

New Delhi, May 26 (FN Agency) The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday hailed the action taken against Delhi Principal Secretary (Revenue) and his wife, who have been transferred by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, after controversy over allegedly asking athletes to leave early, so that they could walk their dog in the stadium. Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta posted on micro-blogging site in Hindi, “Delhi government official Sanjeev Khirwad, who walked the dog at Thyagaraj Stadium, has been transferred to Ladakh. We welcome this action taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs against the officials misusing the government machinery.” Following media reports over the alleged misuse of a sports facility, Delhi Principal Secretary (Revenue) Sanjeev Khirwar and his wife Rinku Dugga, also an IAS officer, have been transferred by MHA. Khirwar has been transferred to Ladakh, while Dugga will be stationed at Arunachal Pradesh, according to a notification from MHA.

Both the officers have been asked to join their place of postings with “immediate effect”. The IAS couple was at the centre of a controversy over claims that a Delhi government stadium was closed and athletes were asked to leave early, so that they could walk their dog in the stadium. According to reports, Thyagraj Stadium was being emptied, and athletes were told to leave by 7 pm, so that the power couple could take evening stroll along with their dog. Following the news story which broke in the morning today, the Delhi Government sprung into action and issued directions to increase practice timings of all stadiums till 10 pm. “We are issuing instructions that all sports facilities should remain open till 10 pm, so that the sports persons can use them,” Kejriwal told reporters during his participation at the oath-taking ceremony of new Delhi LG Vinai Kumar Saxena.