In a first for the Government of Mayawati, one of her own party MPs has expressed discontent.

BSP MP from Basti Lalmani Prasad has written a letter to Chief Minister Mayawati, requesting her to take action against Principal Secretary, Medical and Health, Arun Kumar Mishra. Prasad has charged the senior IAS officer with working against the interest of Dalits and taking deliberate punitive action against a particular community.

The MP’s complaint also cites examples of the officer’s biased attitude. It states that during his tenure as Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL), Arun Kumar Mishra terminated the services of some 300-odd employees, belonging to the Scheduled Caste. Prasad further said even when the terminated employees got relief from the High Court, they were not reinstated and court orders were violated by the officer.

In his letter, Prasad said that Mishra has a grudge against those belonging to the Scheduled Caste. He claimed to have met several officers and complained to them about Mishra, however, his concern was not paid heed to. Accusing Mishra of being a person with a dictatorial attitude, Prasad said such officers should not be given such important postings.

Provincial Medical Services (PMS) doctors admitted that those belonging to the SC category were not being given good postings. Only four Chief Medical Officers in the 70 districts are SCs, they added.