Bisht was removed last month for issuing an official letter to Bageshwar SP to cancel challans on trucks laden with mining material
Sunday, 09 January 2022 | Gajendra Singh Negi | Dehradun
Apart from issuing a flurry of orders just ahead of the declaration of the polls and enforcement of model code of conduct (MCC) the Uttarakhand government has also reinstated the services of Nandan Singh Bisht, the controversial Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the chief minister Puskhar Singh Dhami. Bisht was sacked on December 11, 2021 when a letter issued by him asking the Bageshwar Superintendent of Police (SP) to cancel the penalty imposed on three trucks involved in transportation of mining material went viral.
The Pioneer is in possession of the re-appointment letter issued on January 6 by the secretary (in-charge) of secretariat administration Vinod Kumar Suman for reinstating the services of the sacked PRO. In the letter Suman said that the Bisht would be appointed on the co -terminus non cadre post of PRO from December 11, 2021 to February 28, 2022 or end of the CM’s tenure whichever is early. It is interesting to note that Bisht was sacked on December 11 while the letter issued on January 6 mentions him re-appointed on the very date he was removed.
The Dhami government had sacked PRO Bisht after the letter written by him to Bageshwar SP went viral. In the letter Bisht had said that he had been verbally directed that the challans (penalty) on three trucks should be waived off. The letter written on an official letter pad also mentioned the registration numbers of the penalised trucks.
A controversy erupted when the copy of the letter started making rounds on social media. The opposition Congress pounced on the opportunity to corner the CM and raised the issue during the winter session of the Uttarakhand assembly. The deputy leader of assembly Karan Mahra linked the letter with the law and order condition of the state. The Congress had also alleged that the letter proves that the mining mafia is ruling the roost in the state.
