Did the District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner of Belgaum, J. Ravishankar, violate protocol or commit a faux pass of sorts when he went to a political meeting to receive a memorandum the other day?
Although nobody has publicly questioned this, the presence of the young IAS officer in a sports’ costume at a public meeting organised by Hindutva organisations and addressed by Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh, Vishwa Hindu Parishat, Shiv Sena and BJP leaders, to pay tribute to Swami Laksmanananda of Orissa on Saturday evening, has raised eyebrows both in official circles as well as in civil society.
When asked to clarify on the matter, Mr. Ravishankar told The Hindu here on Monday that he had received a telephone call from a BJP leader who requested him to come to the venue to receive a memorandum while he was playing cricket somewhere else. Also, since it was the second Saturday and a holiday, his office was closed. Thus, he went to the venue of the meeting and received the memorandum from the organizers.
Asked whether he had violated protocol in the process, he neither admitted nor denied the allegation. But, he did say that it was just a matter of convenience, but “would not be a trend.”
I also was amazed to see the Deputy Commissioner in waiting at the venue. Pictures are self explanatory. I overheard people speak, how that is the DC comes to collect the memorandum and that too in Sports dress.
But as he said, that it was just a matter of convenience, but “would not be a trend.”
Photos: Courtsey BidduSource: The Hindu