NEW DELHI: Congress on Wednesday termed the ministry of environment as “Pravachan mantralay (ministry of sermons)” after the Centre removed four officials from environment minister Bhupender Yadav’s office.In a post on X, Congress MP and former environment minister Jairam Ramesh took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and claimed that all key appointments in the personal staff of Union ministers are vetted by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).”During the Modi regime, all key appointments in the personal staff of ministers are vetted by the PMO,” the Congress leader said.”Now four close aides of the Union minister of environment, forests and climate change have been sacked in two batches over two successive days. One of the aides is widely considered the closest of close confidants of the minister concerned,” he added.Jairam Ramesh also alleged that the Environment Ministry has, in recent years, done little to protect the environment and forests.”Clearly there has been a collapse of governance in this important ministry, which has, in recent years, done little to protect the environment and forests and to deal with the implications of climate change,” the Congress leader said.”Meanwhile, ecological destruction across the country continues unabated — including in Great Nicobar, the dense forest areas of central and east India, the Aravalli Range, and other biodiversity-rich ecosystems. Air pollution continues to extract a heavy toll on public health, and standards that need to be updated and enforced simply are not. The list is endless. But does the Modi regime even care? The Paryavaran Mantralay has become a Pravachan Mantralay,” he added.The remarks came after four officials from Bhupender Yadav’s office were removed through four separate orders issued on July 3. The ministry has not given any specific reason for their abrupt removal.The officials include Yadav’s private secretary, assistant private secretary and two additional private secretaries.Yadav’s private secretary, Amar Singh, a 2010-batch IRS officer, was removed on “administrative grounds”. The appointments of assistant private secretary Siddharth Yadav and additional private secretary Ayush Saran, both political appointees, were terminated with immediate effect. The other additional private secretary, Shailesh Kumar Singh, a Central Secretariat Service official, was “prematurely repatriated” to his parent cadre, the Department of Personnel and Training.Reacting to the development earlier, Jairam Ramesh also raised suspicions of a scam.”The news of the sackings of four members of the staff of the Union Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change is shocking. It is no secret how such appointments are made in the first place during the Modi regime. Can there be so much smoke without any fire? Could this be an instance of the Pradhan Mantri Chanda Do Dhandha Lo scheme having gone awry?” he wrote on X.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos9 Indian Ships Carrying 198 Seafarers Remain Near Strait Of Hormuz; Govt Says All Vessels Are SafeBaruipur Rape-Murder Accused Shot Dead In Police Encounter During Crime Scene ReconstructionWATCH: PM Modi Invokes ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’; Indonesia President Admits He Has Indian DNAIndia Set To Supply Two BrahMos Missile Batteries Worth $200 Million To Indonesia: ReportThree Dead, Several Missing After Massive Landslide Near Kerala Tunnel Project SiteWhy Does Mumbai Flood Every Monsoon? 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NEW DELHI: Congress on Wednesday termed the ministry of environment as “Pravachan mantralay (ministry of sermons)” after the Centre removed four officials from environment minister Bhupender Yadav’s office.In a post on X, Congress MP and former environment minister Jairam Ramesh took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and claimed that all key appointments in the personal staff of Union ministers are vetted by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).“During the Modi regime, all key appointments in the personal staff of ministers are vetted by the PMO,” the Congress leader said.“Now four close aides of the Union minister of environment, forests and climate change have been sacked in two batches over two successive days. One of the aides is widely considered the closest of close confidants of the minister concerned,” he added.Jairam Ramesh also alleged that the Environment Ministry has, in recent years, done little to protect the environment and forests.“Clearly there has been a collapse of governance in this important ministry, which has, in recent years, done little to protect the environment and forests and to deal with the implications of climate change,” the Congress leader said.“Meanwhile, ecological destruction across the country continues unabated — including in Great Nicobar, the dense forest areas of central and east India, the Aravalli Range, and other biodiversity-rich ecosystems. Air pollution continues to extract a heavy toll on public health, and standards that need to be updated and enforced simply are not. The list is endless. But does the Modi regime even care? The Paryavaran Mantralay has become a Pravachan Mantralay,” he added.The remarks came after four officials from Bhupender Yadav’s office were removed through four separate orders issued on July 3. The ministry has not given any specific reason for their abrupt removal.The officials include Yadav’s private secretary, assistant private secretary and two additional private secretaries.Yadav’s private secretary, Amar Singh, a 2010-batch IRS officer, was removed on “administrative grounds”. The appointments of assistant private secretary Siddharth Yadav and additional private secretary Ayush Saran, both political appointees, were terminated with immediate effect. The other additional private secretary, Shailesh Kumar Singh, a Central Secretariat Service official, was “prematurely repatriated” to his parent cadre, the Department of Personnel and Training.Reacting to the development earlier, Jairam Ramesh also raised suspicions of a scam.“The news of the sackings of four members of the staff of the Union Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change is shocking. It is no secret how such appointments are made in the first place during the Modi regime. Can there be so much smoke without any fire? Could this be an instance of the Pradhan Mantri Chanda Do Dhandha Lo scheme having gone awry?” he wrote on X.
