Lucknow: It could have been a major story – one filled with connotations and political overtones – that could have spurred the opposition into action. However, timely clarification issued by the officer concerned put an end to the “controversy”.
A photograph of Akhilesh Mishra, an IAS officer from Uttar Pradesh, reportedly selling vegetables went viral on social media. Mishra is currently posted as the Special Secretary in the Transport Department.
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The photo was posted on Mishra’s Facebook account from where it was widely circulated across social media platforms.
In the picture, he can be seen seated on what looks like a sack at a roadside vegetable stall. The stall seems to be located in a busy market as other vegetable sellers and customers can also be seen.
As soon as the photograph went viral, netizens started jumping to conclusions. One claimed that Mishra was given a side posting which made him sell vegetables instead while others insisted that he was doing this to embarrass the state government.
However, the officer lost no time in issuing a clarification.
“I was on a visit to Prayagraj for some official work and on my way back, I stopped to buy vegetables. In the meantime, the vegetable vendor, an old lady, requested me to look after her shop saying she would be back in a moment as her child had strolled away,” he said.
The officer further said: “Just as I sat down at her shop, a customer and the seller came. One of my friends took the photo and put it on my Facebook account from my phone.”
The storm that was brewing in a vegetable shop was stopped and most netizens withdrew their remarks.