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Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash’s complaint on Tuesday that he had been “roughed up” by two AAP legislators during a midnight meeting at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence brought the State to the brink of a Constitutional crisis.
Although a temporary truce was brokered between the AAP-led Delhi government and the BJP-ruled Centre, the latest incident exemplified the deep chasm between the two dispensations and its potential to wreck political stability.
Acrimonious situation
Chaos reigned at the Delhi Secretariat through the day as officials and staff in the State government raised slogans and allegedly held Environment Minister Imran Hussain captive as a mark of protest.
Police had to intervene to disperse the protesting employees. The BJP demanded Kejriwal’s resignation and Home Minister Rajnath Singh stepped in to calm tempers as various associations of IAS officers thronged his office to protest against the alleged humiliation of a senior officer.
In his complaint to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (North), the Chief Secretary said, “The MLAs started shouting at me and abused me while blaming me and the bureaucracy for not doing enough for [the] publicity of the government. One MLA, whom I can identify, threatened that I will be confined in the room for the entire night unless I agree to release TV campaign…(sic) Then suddenly, Amanullah Khan, MLA, and the person/MLA on my left side whom I can identify, without any provocation from my side, started hitting me and hit several blows with fists on my head and temple (sic). My spectacles fell on the ground. I was in a state of shock. With difficulty, I was able to leave the room and get into my official car and leave CM residence.”
CS made casteist remarks: AAP
The AAP legislators registered counter complaints, accusing the Chief Secretary of making “casteist slurs”. Contesting the Chief Secretary’s version, AAP said the meeting at the CM’s residence was not about publicising the government’s work, but about providing rations to the poor.
In the meantime, the IAS Officers Association took a candle-light march at Rajpath to protest the “assault on [the] bureaucracy”.
Officers approach Rajnath
The Union Home Ministry sought a report on the incident from the Lieutenant Governor. “Justice will be done,” said Home Minister Rajnath Singh. “A delegation of IAS, DANICS and Subordinate Services of Delhi Government met me today and apprised me of the prevailing situation.”
Former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit described the incident as “disgraceful” and the Congress said Kejriwal should apologise for “this act of hooliganism”. Delhi BJP President Manoj Tiwari termed the AAP MLAs’ alleged actions “urban naxalism”, abd demanded that Kejriwal resign. He also called for the accused MLAs to be suspended.
“They represent the people of Delhi, but are nothing short of urban naxalites. How utterly disgusting behaviour,” he said.
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