‘Can there be so much smoke without any fire?’ Congress swipe at BJP after Bhupender Yadav's close aides are removed

The opposition party's dig came after the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change relieved the private secretary and three additional secretaries of their duties from Yadav's office.

Written By Gulam Jeelani
Published7 Jul 2026, 05:43 PM IST
Kolkata, Jun 30 (ANI): Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav during the 111th Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) Foundation Day and the inauguration of the Animal Taxonomy Summit 2026 at a programme, in Kolkata on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)
Kolkata, Jun 30 (ANI): Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav during the 111th Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) Foundation Day and the inauguration of the Animal Taxonomy Summit 2026 at a programme, in Kolkata on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)(Utpal Sarkar)

The Congress party on Tuesday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government over the removal of key aides of Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav from his office.

The Opposition party asked if this could be an instance of the "Pradhan Mantri Chanda Do Dhandha Lo" scheme having gone wrong.

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The opposition party's dig came after the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change relieved the private secretary and three additional secretaries of their duties from Yadav's office.

"It is no secret how such appointments are made in the first place during the Modi regime. Can there be so much smoke without any fire? Could this be an instance of the Pradhan Mantri Chanda Do Dhandha Lo scheme having gone awry?" Ramesh asked on X.

What is the controversy?

While private secretary Amar Singh was removed on "administrative grounds", the appointment of additional private secretary Ayush Saran was terminated, and additional private secretary Shailesh Kumar Singh was "prematurely repatriated to his parent cadre , i.e. Department of Personnel and Training".

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While private secretary Amar Singh was removed on 'administrative grounds', the appointment of additional private secretary Ayush Saran was terminated and additional private secretary Shailesh Kumar Singh was 'prematurely repatriated to his parent cadre i.e. Department of Personnel and Training.'

The decision was made through three different orders - all of them dated July 3.

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The Congress has often used the 'Chanda Do Dhandha Lo' refrain in the past for alleging that the BJP collected donations under the electoral bonds scheme and, in return, promised official tenders and contracts.

(With agency inputs)

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