Karnataka State Women’s Commission Chairperson Manjula Manasa, on Sunday, met Regional Commissioner and Administrative Training Institute (ATI) Director General Rashmi V., who was attacked recently by an unruly mob on the campus of ATI, at her residence here.
Ms. Manasa held talks with the senior IAS officer for about half an hour. She was accompanied by Congress leader and activist M. Lakshmana and a few others.
However, Ms. Rashmi, who had been issued a show-cause notice by the State government on charges of “indiscipline”, refused to speak to reporters, who were waiting in large numbers for her reaction on the notice.
Speaking to reporters, Ms. Manasa said the commission had registered a suo motu case and sought an independent inquiry, either from the Lokayukta or the CID, into the incident.
“The commission deplores the attack on Ms. Rashmi and demands stringent action against those responsible. The inhuman and uncivilized behaviour of the people was condemnable,” she said.
Ms. Manasa said the report submitted to the commission by Police Commissioner M.A. Saleem on the attack was unsatisfactory. “It lacks information. Therefore, I have sought a detailed report from him to proceed further with the case and seek the government’s action on the incident.”
The chairperson charged that lack of police protection resulted in the attack and expressed unhappiness over Chief Secretary Kaushik Mukherjee issuing notice to Ms. Rashmi, seeking an explanation from her.
Anil Kumar Sastry reports from Mangalore:
Asked his reaction on the recent assault on IAS officer Rashmi V. in Mysore, president of Karnataka State unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Pralhad Joshi, said the party wants high-level probes not only on the assault; but also on the issue raised by Ms. Rashmi of funds misappropriation at the Administrative Training Institute, Mysore. He alleged that attempts are being made to protect “some people” in the government by issuing show-cause notice to Ms. Rashmi for speaking to the media.
On the central government’s proposal to appoint senior IAS officer Amita Prasad, against whom Ms. Rashmi had made allegations, to head the Clean Ganga project, Mr. Joshi said if the inquiry indicts Ms. Prasad, the party would inform the same to the Prime Minister.
