Scape Goat

The new flyover was ready but the administration did not allow the public to use it because no one had inaugurated it. The Chief Minister was not able to allot time to inaugurate the flyover for over two months. The general public was going through a lot of inconvenience.

At last, the Chief Minister gave an appointment to open the flyover in five days. The preparations got started in full vigour. Fresh paint was applied to the flyover and the names of the leaders were being etched on to the black granite with golden letters.

Two days before the inauguration, one of the walls of the flyover collapsed. The newspaper published the news in bold headlines “Flyover wall collapses two days before the inauguration.”

Stung by the incident, the minister called the secretary “My reputation in the Chief Minister’s eyes has gone down the drain. People are very angry. I want the concerned officer to be identified and action is taken immediately.”

Meeting was called in a hurry the secretary. Top officials were with the list of all officials who worked during the flyover construction.

The deputy secretary said “The first name is Ramesh Shringi, Executive Engineer. Most of the work was executed during his tenure.”

The chief engineer said, “Sir, he is the son-in-law of the chief minister’s brother-in-law’s uncle.”

Secretary said “Forget this name. He is a close relative of the Chief Minister.”

 “The second name is Mrs. Rina Choudhary. Executive Engineer.”

The deputy secretary said, “Sir, she is the wife of the MP’s nephew.”

“Give me some other name”, said the secretary.

“The third name is Mrs. Sarita Savar. Assistant Engineer.”

Hearing the name, the Chief Engineer got startled and said “Sir, she is a hard-working officer. I know her personally. I will ask her to meet you and explain her position.”

The secretary said “Next..”

The deputy secretary said “Vijay Surana. Assistant Engineer.”

The superintendent engineer said “Sir, his uncle is an IG in the Anti-Corruption Bureau. The IG will target us if we take any action against Vijay.”

The Secretary asked, “Who is next?”

The deputy secretary said “Sandeep Sonkar. Assistant engineer.”

The chief engineer said “Sir, he is a trusted aide of the minister. We cannot target him.”

The Secretary said “Isn’t there anyone who can be targeted? Someone simple?”

The deputy secretary said “Sir, there is one person. Ramesh Kherwal”

The Secretary asked, “What is his record?”

The deputy secretary said “Sir, he got his degree from one of the prestigious engineering colleges with good marks. He is honest and hard-working. But he started working after the flyover construction was completed”

The Secretary said “Yes, but it was his responsibility to take care of the flyover. What is his family background?”

The Deputy Secretary said “Sir, he comes from a poor background. His widowed mother got him studied with great difficulty.”

The Secretary said “My eyes are full of tears. Does he have any political backing?”

The Deputy Secretary said “No sir, nothing important.”

The secretary smiled, took his phone and called the minister “Sir, we have got our scapegoat.”

The newspaper published the following news the next day “For his negligence during the flyover construction, assistant engineer Ramesh Kherwal has been suspended.”