Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday accused the Prime Minister’s office (PMO) of stalling the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s work by threatening officers. Mr. Kejrwial claimed that the officers are on strike for months with orders from the PMO.
“The officers have been on strike for four months. In private, the officers say there is no demand and that they are being threatened to continue the strike. It has been orchestrated by the PMO and coordinated by the L-G,” he said.
Speaking at a press conference at his residence, Mr. Kejriwal added that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are taking orders from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.
He listed out 14 cases filed against AAP Ministers by the CBI and the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), which answers to the L-G.
“What happened to all the cases?” asked Mr. Kejriwal, adding that the CBI and the ACB had been unable to find any proof of corruption.
Referring to the officers’ protest since February, Mr. Kejriwal said it was an “illegal strike” and added that he would ask Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal to declare it so during a meeting on Monday evening.
The officers had launched a protest after Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash was allegedly attacked by AAP MLAs at Mr. Kejriwal’s residence on February 19. While the officers say they are not on strike, they have been refusing to meet the political executive, apart from mandatory meetings like that of the Cabinet meetings.
Mr. Kejriwal said the officers’ actions were against the All India Service Conduct Rules and that he would ask the L-G to take action against officers for the violation.
He added that he would take up the government’s proposal to start doorstep delivery of ration during the meeting with the L-G.
