A State Goods and Services Tax department decision to suspend a staff member and issue show cause notices to a number of others on charges of uploading posts critical of government policies and the Ministers on social media has triggered a row.
The Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has accused the department of targeting leaders of the Opposition-backed employees’ unions. Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan termed the suspension of Ashraf M.A., clerical attender, Office of the Deputy Commissioner (Intelligence), Aluva, biased and undemocratic. Mr. Ashraf, aka Ashraf Manikkam, is also the secretary of the State Employees’ Union.
He was placed on suspension on September 29 pending investigation for uploading and forwarding posts critical of government policies and the Ministers. In doing so, he has violated Rule 60(A) of the Kerala Government Servants Conduct Rules, the order said.
