UP Power Official's Comment 'Burn Down Empty Houses' on Zoom Goes Viral and Sparks Public Anger
In an interesting case, a meeting recently conducted on the Zoom application revealed how a controversial statement by Dheeraj Jaiswal, an official with Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation, made things haywire for him, as it sparked public anger. Issues around unpaid electricity bills had been the stated agenda of the meeting.
During the Q&A session, Jaiswal asked how many households remained without their dues being paid in specific areas. In reply, an employee said that many people had left their state to work elsewhere in Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Delhi, and were not present in their homes. On being told this, according to reports, Jaiswal responded with the drastic suggestion: "Set fire to those empty houses."
This careless remark, whether intentional or not, was quickly leaked into social media by a video clip from the meeting, which has spawned mass outrage. The comment soon earned serious considerations for the ethics and professionalism set on a public official and has alarmed many, even to the point of calling for accountability and an in-depth investigation into the intent of the words said by Jaiswal.
In a bid to smother the furore, state officials have reassured the public that they are investigating the incident to establish the full context of the comment. Public outrage continues to escalate, with citizens and social media users questioning the professionalism and sensitivity with which those in charge of public service handle such situations.
The incident highlighted responsible communication, especially by such officers in their public service positions, and brings to the fore once again the issue of what standards government employees should meet about addressing sensitive issues like unpaid bills and revenue collection.