NEW DELHE: The Indian government last Week sprang a Surprise when it appointed a low-key Muslim officer as cabinet secretary in place of S.Rajpopal who retires at the end of this month; Zafar Saifullah who takes over the highest bureaucratic seat was secretary of the minority’s commission. Manohar Singh Gill who was a hot favorite almost till the end was ignored in the process. Senior ministers like Arjun Singh favored a Muslim in view of the alienation of this community from the Congress (I) in the wake of destruction of Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992. Top bureaucratic posts have assumed importance due to weakening of the prime minister following the disclosures Of Harshad Mehta.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 16, 1993
