'BSF DG Removed From Post Over Differences With Juniors': Exclusive On MHA's Strict Approach

Border Security Force (BSF) Director General (DG) Nitin Agarwal was removed from his post over serious differences between his juniors and him, according to government sources.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) removed Agarwal and his deputy Special DG (West) Y B Khurania, sending them back to their respective state cadres with immediate effect on Friday.

“The BSF DG’s removal was not because of any operational reasons or professional incompetency. There were serious differences between his juniors on senior positions and him. On multiple occasions, they were told to sort out their differences as their time was important to manage crisis and guard borders,” sources said.

“The BSF is deployed in key locations and the situation becomes bad when those in top positions are fighting among themselves. The situation reached the point of my force versus your force. The government is clear on the issue. Indiscipline and differences will not be tolerated,” sources said.

“The top officials of the government were told and a proposal to repatriate DG BSF was moved on July 30,” they said.

MHA’s NO-NONSENSE APPROACH

The MHA is known for its no-nonsense approach. Earlier, Union Home Secretary LC Goel was removed along with Additional Secretary (Home). This was also done overnight after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh wrote on the file and both were shifted, said sources.

Agarwal had taken charge as the BSF chief in June last year, while Khurania, as the special DG (West), was heading the formation of the force along the Pakistan border.

Agarwal has been repatriated two years before his tenure was to end. “The appointments committee of cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs for premature repatriation of Nitin Agarwal, IPS KL (89), DG, BSF to his parent cadre with immediate effect,” the order said.

Agarwal, a 1989-batch Kerala cadre officer, and Khurania, from the 1990-batch of the Odisha cadre, have been “prematurely” repatriated with “immediate effect”, according to separate orders issued by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). Although Khurania’s proposal was sent on July 25 as the Odisha government has asked him for the post of DGP, they have sent Amrit Mohan Prasad from Odisha on Central deputation.