Another face-off looming in Delhi? Kejriwal plans Bengaluru-trip, bureaucrats worried
Two days after a months-long stand-off between the Delhi government and bureaucracy seemingly ended, things are looking uncertain once again. The two sides reached an agreement after CM Arvind Kejriwal agreed to grant them a meeting before resuming work. But as he now prepares to go to Bengaluru for 10 days, they're unsure if they'll get the promised meeting, which was their only demand.
Government ties with bureaucrats unusually tense in recent times
Ties between the Delhi government and bureaucrats have been tense since Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash was allegedly assaulted by AAP members in front of Kejriwal in February. AAP termed the allegations "ludicrous," adding Prakash had refused to answer questions, and used "bad language." Kejriwal has claimed the PMO was misusing CBI, ED, L-G's office and other agencies to derail the AAP government's work.
A nine-day sit-in at L-G's house to protest officers' "strike"
On June 11, Kejriwal, along with Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and ministers Satyender Jain and Gopal Rai, visited L-G Anil Baijal's office to demand an end to "striking" officers, a charge the latter has denied. They lodged themselves in his office for nine days, till Baijal finally intervened on June 19 and urged Kejriwal to meet the officers at the Secretariat.
Kejriwal heads to Bengaluru for 10 days, leaving officers worried
Now Kejriwal, a diabetic, is heading to Bengaluru for naturopathy treatment, and officers are uncertain. "The meeting was the condition on which the impasse ended," one said, adding Kejriwal's bad health is understandable, but "just giving us the date and time would have served the purpose." Otherwise, "the assurance given by him sounds hollow with him gone," the association of AGMUT cadre IAS officers said.
Meanwhile, other ministers resume work with full force
Though Kejriwal didn't attend office yesterday on account of fever and high blood sugar, other ministers, including those in education, home, power, urban development, environment and labor departments, held a number of meetings. "The atmosphere at the meetings (yesterday) was different from earlier. It was congenial and positive," a senior bureaucrat said. But officers continued observing five-minute silence in protest against Prakash's alleged assault.
Officers hope to meet the CM before he leaves
Kejriwal will attend a cabinet meeting today before heading off to Bengaluru, but there's no word on when he will meet officers. When asked, Sisodia told HT it "will be held." Officers are hoping to meet the CM before he leaves.
