Are DANICS (Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service) and IAS officers' associations B teams of BJP? So says Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who also took to Twitter to condemn officials' mass-leave protest on Thursday as a 'conspiracy' to fail his government's ambitious odd-even car formula.
"People will be v happy if these officers go on long leave. Govt ready to give paid leave. Governance will become honest, smooth n efficient," he tweeted.
The statements have not gone down well with the officers, with insiders saying that the AAP government's actions have disappointed them so much that they will strictly 'work-to-rule' from Friday, when they resume office.
Around 200 DANICS-cadre officials had gone on a day-long mass leave on Thursday, and over 70 IAS officials kept off work from 9am to 2pm, to protest AAP government's suspension orders on two special secretaries – Yashpal Garg and Subhash Chandra. The officials had refused to sign a file pertaining to the revision of pay scales of public prosecutors of the Delhi home department, saying the matter was under lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung.
The ministry of home affairs (MHA), however, on Thursday, declared the orders as null and void.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal warned agitating officers, saying the government is exploring all options against officers who went on leave on Thursday. "Time has come to replace bureaucrats wid professionals and sector experts. Infuse fresh energy n ideas in governance," he tweeted.
Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said, "The mass leave protest is part of a conspiracy so that we fail to implement the scheme. The PMO and the LG office were in direct contact with DANICS officials when they were holding a meeting yesterday."
Sisodia also said that the officers are not indispensable as he tweeted, "Why we need so many IAS & DANICS officers in govt when there is so much fresh dedicated professional talent available in Delhi? This govt is ready to work with handful of honest and dedicated officers," adding that nothing will change even if the officers go on a six-month leave.
"Professional & Dynamic youth can better develop Delhi. They should b given chance to work on posts which require professional expertise," he tweeted.
Sources from the bureaucracy told dna: "If the government alleges they are acting for the BJP, then let that be the case. "It was highly unfair on the government's part to say that we are acting as team B of BJP. We are officers and do not belong to any party," a senior bureaucrat told dna.
"If they think that the mass-leave protest on Thursday was a conspiracy to derail the odd-even formula from January 1, then why did the home minister (Satyendra Jain) issue sudden suspension orders just now? Should he have not waited for the odd-even plan to get over on January 15 and then held a meeting with the LG to sort out the matter?" the official asked.
The officials said the allegation of them working with the BJP will stay with them. "The two officers had acted as per the rules and the Delhi home secretary was bypassed in the process. If they don't need us, why do they allege that we are conspiring?" an official said, adding that blaming the Delhi bureaucrats won't help the cause and will only worsen the matter.
Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS) are selected through civil service exams conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the Union Home Ministry is their cadre-controlling authority.
Meanwhile, Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay said the AAP government is harassing officials and sought home minister Satyendar Jain's resignation over the issue. "The suspension of two special secretaries is completely a wrong administrative decision," he said.
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