A group of protesters camped outside the local police station demanding registration of an FIR against the officials.
Highlight
- The Gujarat government has suspended a senior official of the body which manages the ‘Statue of Unity’.
- He made inappropriate and objectionable remarks against a tribal community settled in the area.
- A group of protesters camped outside the police station demanding registration of an FIR against him.
The Gujarat government on Sunday suspended a senior official of the body that manages the ‘Statue of Unity’ in Narmada district for allegedly making inappropriate and objectionable remarks against a tribal community mainly settled in the area. said.
The authority’s chief administrator Ravi Shankar said Nilesh Dubey, who held additional charge as deputy collector in the Statue of Unity Area Development and Tourism Governance Authority, was suspended by the state government and a departmental inquiry was initiated against him.
The action came after an audio clip of a contractual employee of the authority on the mobile phone of his purported conversation with a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officer went viral, in which he was heard using inappropriate and objectionable words against the community. can go. said.
“Dubey has been suspended. A departmental inquiry has been initiated and appropriate action will be taken against him. He never denied using words (against the tribal community), but said that the audio clip was made public. which was only half the conversation.” she added.
The words used by Dubey, posted as assistant commissioner of Sardar Sarovar Punarvasuvat Agency, have led to widespread agitation by members of the tribal community, some of whom have even stopped working with the authority, the official said. said.
The 182 meter high statue, built to pay tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, has become a major tourist attraction.
Tribal rights activist Praful Vasava said, “The protesters have also demanded registration of an FIR against Dubey under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for using derogatory words against the ST community.”
Vasava said a group of protesters camped outside the local police station demanding registration of an FIR against him.
He also claimed that the bandh call by a group of tribal organizations in Kevadiya was successful as most of the shops remained closed during the day.
Vasava said, “People took to the streets and raised slogans against Dubey for using words that hurt the sentiments of the community. They burnt his effigy and also demanded action against him. Local people working at the Statue of Unity has stopped working in protest.” said.