Unprecedented crisis: Delhi chief secy claims AAP MLAs assaulted him

The administration in Delhi slipped into an unprecedented crisis on Monday after the chief secretary claimed that AAP MLAs manhandled him in the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during a midnight meeting.

The Delhi government employees boycotted work at various offices even as the IAS and state subordinate officers’ associations announced they would not go on strike as it would create trouble for the public.

The drama unfolded around 12 am when Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash was summoned to Kejriwal’s residence for a meeting on releasing stuck TV advertisements to commemorate three years of the AAP government in Delhi.

Prakash is said to have told MLAs that he has to go by the Supreme Court guidelines in the matter. This is said to have infuriated the MLAs.

The AAP claimed the allegations were “bizarre and unfounded” and alleged that Prakash used caste slurs when MLAs asked about people not getting basic facilities like medicine.

The AAP also claimed that Prakash said that he is only answerable to the Lt Governor and not to the chief minister and the MLAs.

The allegation of manhandling and counter-charges by the AAP MLAs led to a riot-like situation in the Delhi Secretariat.

The day was marked by protests by staff and civil servants, a candle-light vigil led by IAS officers at Rajghat and calls for Kejriwal’s resignation by the Opposition Congress and the BJP.

Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain, who claimed he was assaulted, was mobbed by staff and had to be escorted to his office by policemen struggling to rein in the protesters.

After filing a police complaint, Prakash also briefed Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who sought a report from Lt Governor Anil Baijal.

As Singh said justice will be done and civil servants should be allowed to work with dignity and without fear, the AAP said the home minister was finding fault with them even without an enquiry.

Prakash claimed that he was called for a midnight meeting though he had suggested it should be held in the morning.

When he reached Kejriwal’s residence, 11 MLAs were already present there.

“One of the MLAs firmly shut the door. I was made to sit in between Amanatullah Khan and another person/MLA in a three seater sofa. The chief minister directed me to answer the MLAs and explain the reasons for the delay in the release of TV campaign,” Prakash stated.