Delhi govt officers' body rejects Kejriwal's strike claim

Rejecting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's claim that government officers have been on "strike" for three months, a body representing the officials said no officer has been on strike and the work was going on with "full vigour".

The chief minister earlier today accused the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the Centre of "unleashing" the lieutenant governor, IAS officials and agencies such as the CBI, ED, I-T Department and the Delhi Police on the AAP government to stall its functioning.

He also alleged that the Delhi government officials, who have been boycotting meetings with AAP ministers for four months after the alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash, were being "threatened" into continuing their strike.

 

Asked about the officers' demand for an apology from him,

Kejriwal shot back, "Apology for what? Apology for baseless allegations?".

The officers had demanded an apology from the chief minister over the assault on the CS allegedly by some AAP MLAs at Kejriwal's residence in February.

The Delhi government officers' body said in a statement that the officials continue to work with "full vigour and dedication, in fact, many times even on holidays".

"As a result of the assault on chief secretary, the officers are concerned about their physical safety and security as also attacks on their dignity and respect. They are also concerned about continued threat and intimidation and verbal assaults by many of the ministers," it said.

The body said it was a matter of record that the officers concerned have been attending all cabinet meetings, statutory meetings and meetings of importance affecting the public, adding that they have also been regularly briefing the ministers for Assembly questions.

"If the officers had been on strike, the budget could not have been passed and the Budget session could not have been held.

"The secretaries are also regularly submitting to the ministers weekly reports of important matters disposed of by their respective departments under Rule 17 of the Transaction of Business Rules," the statement added.