The Narendra Modi government has issued a stern warning to all the officers invited to attend the Independence Day celebrations on August 15 that a serious view would be taken of their absence on the occasion.
In a letter to all the Secretaries, Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth has taken note of low attendance of the official invitees on the occasion of “great national importance”.
“It has been observed that there is, at times, low attendance of the official invitees to the ceremony,” the letter says, adding: “Considering the importance of this national function at which the Prime Minister addresses the nation, it is expected that all the officers who are invited attend the ceremony.”
Issuing a warning that “you might also caution them (invitee officers) that a serious view would be taken of their absence on this occasion,” the letter states that there is clearly a need to remind them that it is their duty to attend the Independence Day ceremony.
The Union government has plans to invite nearly 10,000 people to the grand ceremony, for which instructions have already been given to the departments concerned to make necessary seating arrangements.
