Delhi babus go on mass leave, AAP govt sees 'conspiracy'

Over 250 senior bureaucrats of Delhi Government today went on a mass leave protesting suspension of two officials, an action declared void by the Centre as the AAP dispensation explored "all options" against them and accused the Lt Governor of instigating them at the behest of PMO.
Training guns at the Centre, the AAP government said the officers going on leave a day ahead of roll out of the odd-even scheme was part of a "conspiracy" to ensure "failure" of the ambitious initiative aimed at curbing air pollution.
In a seried of tweets, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "firing at the AAP government from the shoulders of Lt Governor and these officers".

While around 200 DANICS-cadre officers went on a day-long mass leave, over 70 IAS officials struck work from 9 AM to 2 PM, protesting AAP government's action against Yashpal Garg and Subhash Chandra, both Special Secretaries.
Calling the DANICS and IAS associations as "full fledged B teams of BJP", Kejriwal said his government was exploring all options against the officers who went on leave and warned "insubordination will not be tolerated".
He alleged that Lt Governor Najeeb Jung was personally in touch with DANICS officials when they held a meeting yesterday where a decision regarding proceeding on mass leave was taken.

"LG personally attended DANICS association meeting yesterday through speaker phone. LG in turn was in touch with Nripendra Misra in PMO," Kejriwal said.

In a series of tweets, he also said time has come to replace bureaucrats with professionals and sector experts to infuse fresh energy and ideas in governance.
"People will be very happy if these officers go on long leave. Government is ready to give paid leave. Governance will become honest, smooth and efficient," he said, adding corruption will not be tolerated.
The two DANICS (Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service) cadre officials, serving at the Home Department, were suspended after they refused to sign a file pertaining to the Cabinet decision to increase salary of public prosecutors.

The Chief Minister also said time has come to replace bureaucrats with professionals and sector experts to infuse fresh energy and ideas in governance.
"People will be very happy if these officers go on long leave. Government is ready to give paid leave. Governance will become honest, smooth and efficient," he said.
A Home Ministry spokesperson earlier said the Ministry declared the suspension order as 'non est' (mistake or does not exist) and the two officers would be deemed on duty.