AAP vs bureaucrats war continues: Prakash Jarwal arrested, party cries foul

Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash alleged that he was 'manhandled' by AAP MLAs

New Delhi: AAP legislator Prakash Jarwal was arrested by Delhi police on late Tuesday night in connection with the Delhi chief secretary assault case. His arrest followed after a day of war and drama between the Delhi bureaucracy and ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). 

Jarwal was picked up from his house at Deoli and initially detained. He was later arrested. 

AAP Delhi unit's chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj later tweeted, “Delhi Police arrested elected MLA without any evidence. What about arrest of IAS Officers who can be seen beating Minister in Secretariat? There is FIR by Minister as well as video evidence, but no arrests.”

Delhi Police arrested elected MLA without any evidence. What about arrest of IAS Officers who can be seen beating Minister in Secretariate ?
There is FIR by Minister as well as video evidence, but no arrests.

— Saurabh Bharadwaj (@Saurabh_MLAgk) February 20, 2018

It all began on Tuesday morning after Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash alleged that he was 'manhandled' by AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan and others, during a meeting at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence on Monday night. An FIR was later filed against Khan and others on the basis of Prakash's complaint. 

Refuting all allegations, AAP leaders Jarwal and Ajay Dutt, MLAs from Deoli and Ambedkar Nagar respectively, claimed that Delhi Chief Secretary made casteist remarks and lodged a complaint against him with the Delhi Police and the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. 

Later on Tuesday afternoon, chaos unfolded inside the Delhi Secretariat, with AAP claiming party leaders Imran Hussain and Ashish Khetan being assaulted by officials and staff. 

Meanwhile, a delegation of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Association met with Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, asking to take strict action against offenders. Association secretary Manisha Saxena termed the assault on Anshu Prakash a "planned criminal conspiracy". 

The bureaucrats further decided to maintain only formal written channels of communication and not meet anyone post office hours or talk over the phone. 

"The three Associations of the Delhi government officers (IAS, DANICS and DASS) have decided that they will only maintain the formal written channels of communication with the political executive, till such time the Chief Minister admits and apologizes for the incident of physical assault on the Chief Secretary... and strong action is taken against the people responsible for it," an official statement by the association read. 

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has sought a report over the alleged assault of Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash, saying he was 'deeply pained' by the incident.

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.

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) February 20, 2018

AAP, in an official statement, clarified its stance saying that a meeting was held at the Chief Minister`s residence regarding Aadhar related problems. 

"About 2.5 lakh families deprived of rations last month due to faulty implementation of Aadhar. MLAs were under tremendous pressure from the public. There was a meeting of MLAs at CM residence," said an official statement by the AAP. 

The statement further said that the Chief Secretary refused to answer questions saying that he "wasn`t answerable to MLAs and the chief minister" but only to the Lieutenant Governor." He used bad language against some MLAs and left without answering any questions. Now he`s making ludicrous allegations." 

Later, Opposition parties in the national capital – BJP and Congress – termed the entire episode shameful. 

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra, at a press conference, demanded Kejriwal's resignation and accused him of bringing "anarchy and lawlessness" in the city leading to a "constitutional crisis". 

Congress too condemned the entire incident. Party leader Ajay Maken is expected to will meet Baijal