JOIN USCM blames PM for officials' stir
Triggering a fresh confrontation with the Central Government, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging that he has used Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and the protesting DANICS Association for paralysing governance in the city.
The mass leave on Thursday by some 200 Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS) officials hit file movement hard in the Secretariat and also cast a shadow on the preparations for the Jan 1-15 car rationing scheme.
An angry Kejriwal unleashed a barrage of tweets and lashed out at officers allegedly working under the influence of Modi and tweeted in Hindi that the PM was using them and the LG as a front to target the AAP government.
“DANICS and IAS associations in Delhi have become full-fledged B teams of BJP,” he tweeted.
“Govt exploring all options against officers who r on leave today. Govt will not tolerate corruption n insubordination,” warned Kejriwal.
Dragging Jung into the mass leave controversy, the Chief Minister tweeted that “LG personally attended DANICS assn meeting yesterday thro speaker ph. LG in turn was in touch wid Nripendra Misra in PMO.”
“People will be v happy if these officers go on long leave. Govt ready to give paid leave. Governance will become honest, smooth n efficient,” said CM.
“Time has come to replace bureaucrats wid professionals and sector experts. Infuse fresh energy n ideas in governance,” he tweeted.
At least 200 senior bureaucrats of the Delhi government went on a day’s protest leave here over the suspension of two officials.
Earlier Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told reporters that the mass leave by the DANICS officers was a conspiracy allegedly hatched by the Centre to sabotage its odd-even number plan beginning from Friday.
This government is ready to work with handful of honest and dedicated officers. Corrupt and careless will have to leave or face action, he said.
We are committed to the people of Delhi and would make sure nothing stops even if these officers go on six months leave, he said.
Subhash Chandra, special secretary (prisons), and Yashpal Garg, special secretary (prosecution), were suspended by the city government for allegedly refusing to sign on two cabinet notes about hiking the salaries of public prosecutors and prison staff.
Following the order, officers belonging to the DANICS (Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service) cadre – to which Chandra and Garg belong – decided to go on a strike. Subsequently, the central government declared the suspensions as invalid.