Arvind Kejriwal assures safety of IAS officers after they allege victimisation for political gains

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, alongwith with his Cabinet colleagues, is sitting at the office of LG for past one week, demanding him to direct IAS officers to end their 'strike' and approve doorstep delivery scheme of his government.

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New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday assured IAS officers that he would ensure their safety saying they were part of his family. The statement came hours after the IAS officers' association said that they were feeling 'frightened and victimised'. They added that the AAP government was using bureaucrats for 'political gains'.

Sharing his statement on Twitter, Kejriwal said, "I am told that IAS Officers Association has expressed concerns about their safety in a press conference today. I wish to assure them that I will ensure their safety and security with all powers and resources available at my command. It is my duty."

"I have given similar assurances earlier also to many officers who have been meeting me privately. I reiterate it today. The officers are part of my family. I would urge them to stop their boycott of elected government, return to work now and start attending all meetings of ministers, respond to their calls and messages and join them for field inspections," he added.

My appeal to my officers of Delhi govt .... pic.twitter.com/YQ02WgaAtd — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 17, 2018

Kejriwal, accompanied by his deputy Manish Sisodia and ministers Satyendar Jain and Gopal Rai, have stayed put at the Lieutenant Governor's office since Monday, demanding that Anil Baijal should direct the IAS officers to end their 'strike'. The Delhi CM has said that he and his ministers will not leave until their demands are met.

रुके न जो, झुके न जो, दबे न जो,मिटे न जो 
हम वो इंक़लाब हैं,ज़ुल्म का जवाब हैं
हर शहीद का,गरीब का हमीं तो ख़्वाब हैं। 

तख़्त और ताज को, कल के लिए आज को
जिसमें ऊंच-नीच है ऐसे हर समाज को
हम बदल के ही रहेंगे वक़्त के मिजाज़ को !

तीसरे दिन भी दिल्ली के हक़ के लिए संघर्ष जारी है ! pic.twitter.com/lKjhL9wSOQ — AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 13, 2018

Meanwhile, Jain was admitted to hospital on Sunday after his health deteriorated.

#Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Kumar Jain has been admitted to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital. He was on a sit-in strike at Raj Niwas, the official residence of Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, since June 11. pic.twitter.com/rOy5FH34bA — ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2018

According to the AAP government, the IAS officers have been on 'strike' and boycotting meetings with ministers since the alleged assault on the Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash by some of AAP MLAs at the CM's residence on the intervening night of February 19-20.

Earlier, the Delhi CM had alleged that officers have gone on 'strike' following the directions of Prime Minister's Office and it is being 'anchored' by the LG. 

I don’t think Hon’ble LG can take such a decision on his own. Obviously, PMO has directed him to refuse permission. Just like IAS strike is being done at PMO’s instance. https://t.co/hKEe99s8Fp — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 16, 2018

Good morning Delhi

जो प्रधान मंत्री किसी राज्य में अफ़सरों की हड़ताल करवा के वहाँ का काम काज ठप करता है, क्या ऐसे प्रधान मंत्री के हाथों में देश का लोकतंत्र सुरक्षित है? — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 17, 2018

On Sunday, he posted another tweet requesting PM Narendra Modi to ask IAS officers to call off their 'strike'. 

सर, पूरी दिल्ली ही नहीं, पूरा देश अब तो आपसे गुहार कर रहा है- इन IAS अफ़सरों की हड़ताल ख़त्म करवा दीजिए और लोगों द्वारा चुनी हुई सरकार को प्लीज़ काम करने दीजिए। जनता बहुत आहत और अपमानित महसूस कर रही है। https://t.co/hXnPNpUK7E — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 17, 2018

However, officers have maintained that they are not on 'strike' and no work has been affected. While addressing a press conference on Sunday, the IAS officers' association had asked the Delhi government not to use them for "political gains" and said that the AAP dispensation needed to "change its attitude", reiterating that bureaucrats were not on "strike".

I would like to inform that we are not on strike. The information that IAS officers in Delhi are on strike is completely false & baseless. We are attending meetings, all depts are doing their works. We are sometimes also working on holidays: Manisha Saxena, IAS Association #Delhi pic.twitter.com/4AE90onyYi — ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2018

Let us do our work. We are feeling frightened and victimised. We are being used for completely political reasons: Varsha Joshi, IAS Association #Delhi pic.twitter.com/Y7b2fE4hNI — ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2018

The association alleged that "misinformation and false campaign" are being run to "malign" IAS officers by the government that they are on 'strike'. They further alleged tha the officers were "totally in abnormal situation" where they are "targeted and victimised", adding that bureaucrats are "apolitical and neutral" and their job is just to implement the policies of the government.

Refuting Kejriwal's allegations, officers said that they were not working at the behest of anyone.

(With PTI inputs)