District administration of Ganderbal has ordered an inquiry into a heated spat recently between a politician and Tehsildar, a video clip of which was widely shared over social media.
Officials said Ghulam Ahmed Saloora, chairman of his AwamiInsaaf Party had a heated argument with a KAS officer, TehsildarGanderbal Muhammad Iqbal in the latter’s office when he arrived with a delegation.
Sources said that Saloora along with a delegation had gone to the Tehsil office Ganderbal with some grievances. However, as soon as they reached there Iqbal was leaving for some official work and didn’t hear the delegation which irked Saloora sparking a heated argument.
A number of purported videos of the incident went viral on social media showing TehsildarGanderbal rebuking and scolding Saloora in his office chamber in presence of other employees in spite Saloora repeatedly apologising to him.
The incident angered Saloora’s supporters who who hit the streets demanding action against Iqbal accusing him of humiliating the senior politician and a senior citizen.
Civil Society Ganderbal has taken a serious note of the incident, saying each side involved should “respect the dignity and honour of each other”.
“In particular government servants need to be patient and exercise restraint and maintain discipline, while dealing with the public and matters pertaining therto,” convener of the civil society group, DrKhurshid said in a statement.
“The behaviour of the government servants as evident from the viral video of the spat is highly objectionablable and CSG condemns the same with the request to DDC Ganderbal and Divisional commissioner Kashmir to investigate and take action to prevent such incidents in future.”
TehsildarGanderbal Muhammad Iqbal told Greater Kashmir that “the time the delegation came to see me I was outside my office leaving in connection with an election meeting and told them to come next time which infuriated them.”
He however said that the matter has been resolved amicably.
“We both met in the office of the deputy commissioner Ganderbal and the matter has been sorted out,” Iqbal said.
Saloora said he has been humiliated and this has hurt his supporters.
“DC sa’ab has ordered an inquiry, hopefully truth will prevail,” Salora said, adding no politician or citizen should have to face such an incident in future.
Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Hashmat Ali khan told Greater Kashmir that an inquiry by Additional deputy commissioner has been ordered into the incident.