Bureaucrats in Bihar protest against arrogant politicians

There is a new air of militancy among a certain section of bureaucrats in Bihar fuelled by a series of incidents last month where state civil servants have been humiliated by politicians. The babus appear to be saying that they will not take it lying down any more and are even prepared for a show-down if necessary.

A statement issued by the Bihar Civil Service Association (BCSA) chief Gyanoo Singh decried "the political truancy of several elected representatives amounting to goondaism". What sparked off the new militancy was a series of episodes in recent months where bureaucrats - especially of the lower rank have been abused by arrogant politicians. Vignettes:

• A Congress (I) MLA allegedly beat up a Block Development Officer (BDO) with shoes at Dhakka, Champaran, early last month.
• A group of people alleged to be supporters of Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Ganjendra Himansher, attacked the BDO of Hassanpur and chopped off his hair. The cause: a jeep intended for the deputy speaker reportedly did not reach him on time.