Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash was allegedly roughed up by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs during a meeting at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence on Monday, say sources.
The AAP has denied the allegations and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has sought a report on the alleged attack from Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal.
Here are the latest updates:
The Delhi Police have filed an FIR on a complaint from Mr. Prakash under various sections, including 120B (criminal conspiracy), 186 (obstructing a public servant from performing the duty) and 353 (assault on public servant) against AAP’s Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan and others.
Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash’s complaint to the Delhi Police alleging assault by AAP MLA Amanathullah Khan and others.
AAP leader Ashish Khetan addresses a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday.
AAP leader Ashish Khetan says at a press conference that there was a "riot like situation" at the Delhi Secretariat. Slogans of 'maro, maro' [beat them up] were heard, he claims. ''Environment Minister Imran Hussain has filed a compliant after both of us were attacked at the Secretariat,'' he says. He denies that the Chief Secretary was assaulted by his party MLAs.
Police receive compliant
The Civil Lines police station on Tuesday receives a complaint from Mr. Prakash against 11 AAP MLAs. Sources say the police have sought legal opinion before initiating any action.
Rajnath condemns incident
In a strong-worded tweet, Union Home Minister condemns the incident. "I am deeply pained by the happenings involving the Chief Secretary of the Delhi Government. The civil servants should be allowed to work with dignity and without fear. The MHA has sought a report on the incident from the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. Justice will be done. A delegation of IAS DANICS & Subordinate Services of Delhi Government met me today and apprised me of the prevailing situation," he says.
AAP denies allegation
In identical statements, a spokesperson for the government and leaders of the AAP denies the allegation and accuses Mr. Prakash of “making such ludicrous allegations” at the “BJP's behest.”
The AAP says the meeting was called to discuss the problem of people not getting rations due to “faulty implementation of Aadhaar.”
“CS [The Chief Secretary] refused to answer questions saying that he was not answerable to MLAs and CM and that he was answerable only to the LG [Lieutenant Governor]. He even used bad language against some MLAs and left without answering any questions,” the AAP statement read.
However, officials present at the meeting say the topic of discussion was an advertisement campaign being planned to mark three years of the AAP government. There was a disagreement over advertisement rates, says a source, adding that the Chief Secretary was assaulted by at least two AAP MLAs.
IAS associations condemn attack
In an official statement, the government's Directorate of Information and Publicity says that all IAS officers were meeting Mr. Baijal to discuss their “grievances”.
Three IAS associations have strongly condemned the incident. They term it "pre-planned, pre-meditated and absolutely without any provocation on the part of the Chief Secretary."
"This incident is the culmination of a series of incidents of officers being subjected to verbal abuse and intimidation by political authorities from time to time," read a joint statement released by the IAS, DANICS (Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service) and DASS (Delhi Administrative Subordinate Services) associations.
The officers rule out planning a strike and say that they will continue to work in their offices but request "effective action" against people behind the incident. They also deny earlier media reports that IAS cadre were planning to strike work.
Some DASS cadre sat in front of the Chief Minister's Office to protest the ''assault''. "Work has been affected due to protests," said DASS association general secretary Deepak Bhardwaj.
AAP says party leaders attacked at Secretariat
An AAP government spokesperson alleges that Mr. Khetan and Mr. Hussain were attacked inside the Secretariat by protesting officials.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central, confirms that Mr. Khetan made a call to the PCR (police control room), saying he was mandhandled. Police are checking the veracity of his claims.
Mr. Hussain files a complaint at the Indraprastha Estate police station, alleging that staff threatened and thrashed him.
Vijender Gupta condemns 'attack'
Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta says in a tweet: “CM @ArvindKejriwal in his dictatorial style called Chief Secretary at 12 midnight & berated him in front of his MLAs. Drunk on power CM was concerned about why not more funds were dispersed for advertisements. Such is the state of affairs under AAP. @HMOIndia @LtGovDelhi”
One of the AAP MLAs present at the meeting, Prakash Jarwal alleges that the Chief Secretary made casteist remarks at him and another MLA Ajay Dutt when they asked why Dalit families were not getting rations. In an email to the LG on Tuesday, Mr. Jarwal demands that an FIR be lodged against Mr. Prakash.
