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Arvind Kejriwal calls off 9-day sit-in at LG house after Anil Baijal's letter

This came soon after Baijal wrote to Kejriwal asking him to convene a meeting with officers to sort out the differences between the elected government and the bureaucrats.

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The stand off between the Delhi government and IAS officers in Delhi ended on Tuesday with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal calling off the nine-day sit-in at the Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's office after bureaucrats started attending meeting with AAP ministers. 

This came soon after Baijal wrote to Kejriwal asking him to convene a meeting with officers to sort out the differences between the elected government and the bureaucrats. 

AAP supporters cheered Kejriwal as he came out of the LG's office in the evening and later he was given a welcome at his residence where he addressed party workers. 

The chief minister termed it as a "small victory" while vowing to keep fighting for Delhi's statehood. 

"If the LG has prompted the strike by the IAS officers, it is very unfortunate. It is a small victory. Ninety-nine per cent of the IAS officers are very good. We have done a lot in power and water sectors and we could not have done this alone," he told the party workers.

"But some officers in private told us that they were being pressurised not to work with the AAP government. We were silent for the last four months over the IAS officers' strike. But we wanted to resolve the issue. That is why we felt that the matter should be brought before the public. The battle for Delhi's statehood will continue," Kejriwal said.

Hours after the stir was called off, a joint forum, comprising IAS, DANICS and DASS cadre officers of the Delhi government, wrote to an open letter to Kejriwal seeking a meeting with him over the issue of their safety.

Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said several meetings, attended by IAS officers, were held during the day.

The bureaucrats have been at loggerheads with the AAP dispensation following the alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash in February.

Also Read: LG Anil Baijal writes to CM Kejriwal, asks him to convene meeting with IAS officers to end impasse

Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues have been holding a sit-in at the LG's office since June 11, demanding a direction to the officers to end their "strike".

"Arvind Kejriwal will come out of the L-G office. It was not a dharna. We were waiting to meet the lieutenant governor," the deputy chief minister told reporters here.

Baijal said he was glad that Kejriwal had tweeted an appeal to the officers assuring them of safety and security in their interactions with the elected government. The chief minister had assured the officers on Sunday that he would ensure their safety and security if they attend the meeting called by ministers.

The officers had welcomed Kejriwal's assurance about their safety, saying they are open to formal discussions with the chief minister on the matter.

LG said that he has been informed that the officers have also welcomed the appeal and they are awaiting Kejriwal’s presence in the Secretariat to hold discussions.

(With PTI inputs) 

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