Bengaluru, April 2 (IANS): The BJP on Thursday downplayed the transfer of senior Haryana cadre IAS officer Ashok Khemka who cancelled an illegal land deal involving Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra.

The IAS officer was abruptly transferred by the Haryana's BJP government headed by Manohar Lal Khattar.

Khemka tweeted on Thursday, calling the action "painful".

"Tried hard to address corruption and bring reforms in transport despite severe limitations and entrenched interests. Moment is truly painful," Khemka tweeted.

Asked about the transfer, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain downplayed the issue.

"Service is service, archaeology is also an important work," Hussain said on Thursday.

As per the latest orders of the Haryana government, Khemka, an IIT-Kharagpur graduate, has been posted as the secretary, archaeology and museums department and director general, archaeology and museums.

"It is a good posting, Haryana will benefit from it," the BJP leader said.

This is Khemka's 46th transfer in 24 years of service.