IPS officer writes to Yogi Adityanath, offers to campaign for BJP post retirement

An Indian Police Service (IPS) officer has written to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and offered to campaign for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Surya Kumar Shukla, the officer, has also identified the posts he could be offered after his retirement this month. His letter to Adityanath has gone viral on the social media.

Shukla had earlier in February courted controversy by taking a pledge to have a Ram temple built in Ayodhya.

“Post-retirement, I wish to actively help you in campaigning for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls,” wrote Shukla, who heads home guards. He wrote he has full faith in the BJP’s policies and programmes.

Shukla accused the media of quoting him out of context while insisting he was free to pursue his interests post-retirement including politics. “It is not fit for me to reveal or comment on the contents of the letter. That is between me and the chief minister,” Shukla said.

He has offered his services for vacant posts in the State Planning Commission, Social Welfare Board, Khadi Gramodyog Board and Pollution Control board.

“If I am appointed to any of these posts after retirement, it would entitle me to move across the state and stay in government guest houses and through which I would be able to offer all support that you deem fit,” Shukla wrote.

Opposition Samajwadi Party spokesman Abdul Hafiz Gandhi accused the BJP of politicising the bureaucracy. “If serving officers start talking of a political role, then it is scary.”

First Published: Aug 27, 2018 22:33 IST