In an attempt to bring an end to the ongoing stand-off, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has urged IAS Officers Association to stop the boycott of the elected government and return to work, assuring them of safety and security.
In an attempt to bring an end to the ongoing stand-off, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has urged IAS Officers Association to stop the boycott of the elected government and return to work, assuring them of safety and security.
Kejriwal's remarks came after Delhi's IAS association officers held an unusual press conference at the Press Club and said that that they would not attend those meetings which they feel would be "unsafe".
They were apparently referring to the alleged assault of Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash by some AAP MLAs during an official meeting at Kejriwal's residence on the night of February 19.
Kejriwal, accompanied by his deputy Manish Sisodia and ministers Satyendar Jain and Gopal Rai, have stayed put at the Lieutenant Governor's office since Monday, demanding that LG Anil Baijal should direct the IAS officers to end their "strike".
"I wish to assure that I will ensure their safety and security with all powers and resources available at my command. It is my duty. I have given similar assurances earlier also to many officers who have been meeting me privately. I reiterate it today," Kejriwal said reacting to concerns expressed by IAS Association.
The Chief Minister also said that the officers are a part of my family. "I would urge them to stop their boycott of elected govt, return to work now and start attending all meetings of Ministers, respond to their calls and messages and join them for field inspections."
Kejriwal also said that they shud work without fear or pressure. "They shud not come under any pressures from any sources, whether state govt or central govt or any political party."
Earlier in the day, IAS association rebutted the claim of the Aam Aadmi Party that its officers are on a strike and alleged they are being targeted and victimised.
Revenue Secretary Manisha Saxena, along with Transport Commissioner Varsha Joshi, South Delhi District Magistrate Amjad Tak and Directorate of Information and Publicity Secretary Jaydev Sarangi said that the IAS officers in Delhi are "working with utmost sincerity and dedication".
The officers also said that they are apolitical and neutral and their job is to implement the policies of the government.
"We have been targeted and victimised and told that we are working with someone. We would like to inform that we are not on strike," Saxena said.
The officers denied the charge that the secretaries in the Delhi government are not answering the phone calls of ministers and MLAs and said that none of the phone calls go unanswered.
"Delhi has a unique position and it is something on which we have no control....We neither support any political party nor we are against any political party. We work as per law and Constitution," Saxena said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Kerala's Pinarayi Vijayan, Andhra Pradesh's N Chandrababu Naidu and Karnataka's H D Kumaraswamy had a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the sidelines of the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting and urged the Centre to resolve the issue.
Terming the deadlock as "political crisis", the opposition leaders had said that people should not suffer due to any political crisis brought about by any political party.
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