Retired Officers Urge VP to Halt Oath for Naseer Hussain

Bangalore: In a surprising turn of events, 24 retired IAS and IPS officers have come together to appeal to the Vice President, urging him not to administer the oath to Naseer Hussain of the Congress. Hussain recently secured a seat in the Rajya Sabha from the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.

The retired officers have penned a letter to the Vice President expressing their concern and have requested that Naseer Hussain refrains from taking the oath until the investigation into the case is concluded. The controversy stems from allegations that during his victory celebrations, supporters of Naseer Hussain were heard chanting “Pakistan Zindabad.”

The allegations have been substantiated, with three individuals arrested in connection to the incident. The retired officers have cited this as the basis for their plea, emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation before allowing Naseer Hussain to assume his role in the Rajya Sabha.

R. Ashok, the Opposition leader, has welcomed the stance taken by the retired officers. In a tweet, he expressed his appreciation, stating, “I welcome and appreciate the stand of ex-IAS and IPS officers. Congress leaders should seek his resignation, and a re-election should be demanded.”

The recent Rajya Sabha elections saw four seats contested from the Karnataka State Legislative Assembly, with three going to the Congress and one to the BJP. Naseer Hussain’s victory was marred by the controversial slogans raised during the celebration in Vidhana Soudha. Video clips of the event were sent for examination, confirming the authenticity of the “Pakistan Zindabad” slogan.

Against this backdrop, supporters Iltaz from Delhi, Bangalore resident Mohammad Shafi Nashipudi, and Munawar from Haveri district have been arrested. The controversy adds a new layer to the political landscape, leaving Naseer Hussain’s entry into the Rajya Sabha uncertain pending the investigation’s outcome.