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Jethmalani plays dirty to one, nice to another

In a surprise move, Union Urban Affairs and Employment Minister Ram Jethmalani has divested Secretary Kiran Aggarwal of important responsibilities, handing all these to Special Secretary S S Chattopadyay.

Ministry sources said Jethmalani issued the order on August 27. Accordingly, Chattopadhyay has been put in charge of important areas of work like housing, the Delhi Development Authority and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, with specific instructions to submit all files directly to the minister.

The decision follows Janata Party president Dr Subramanian Swamy's recent press conference in which he charged Jethmalani with involvement in the Rs 3.5 billion M S Shoes scam. The minister had written to the Central Bureau of Investigation, asking it to probe his conduct as well as that of the ministry's officers, who, he alleged, were leaking secret information.

Consequent to the redistribution of work, Chattopadhyay has also become DMRC chairman, a post Aggarwal had held till now.

Aggarwal would, thus, look after relatively insignificant assignments, like the directorate of printing, controller of publication, controller of stationary, central government employees welfare organisation, matters relating to the twenty-point programme and poverty alleviation.

UNI

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