PM, L-G refuse to intervene as AAP protest enters Day-5
The political drama in Delhi shows no signs of ending. The Center and L-G Anil Baijal have continued to remain mum, even as protests by AAP entered Day-5. Since Monday, CM Arvind Kejriwal and three others have been camping at Baijal's office, demanding an end to IAS officers' strike. Two of them are on an indefinite hunger strike. But Baijal still hasn't met them.
Neither PM nor L-G responding, Kejriwal alleges
Kejriwal's visit to L-G's office turns into nightstay, indefinite fast
Monday evening, Kejriwal, along with Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and AAP leaders Gopal Rai and Satyender Jain, visited Baijal's office. Their prime demands were action against striking IAS officers, directions for them to return to work, and approval of the doorstep delivery of ration scheme. They have refused to leave till the L-G obliges. Jain and Sisodia have started an indefinite fast.
L-G, bureaucrats dismiss allegations, claim work continuing normally
The L-G's office dismissed the claims, blaming the Delhi Cabinet for not maintaining relations with bureaucrats. Baijal's office alleged Kejriwal had "threatened" him. IAS officers too denied they were striking. "Secretaries are regularly submitting weekly reports...Copies are marked to the CM and LG," they said. However, they admitted in a communique that officers aren't "attending routine meetings called by ministers and the CM".
Protest to PMO if matter not resolved by Sunday: AAP
AAP has got support from TMC's Mamata Banerjee, RJD's Manoj Jha and RLD's Jayant Chaudhary. Yashwant Sinha, formerly with BJP, joined thousands of AAP-supporters as they marched to Baijal's office Wednesday. AAP's Sanjay Singh said if the matter isn't resolved by Sunday, they'd lead a protest to the PMO. In response, BJP leaders staged a sit-in at Kejriwal's office, demanding assurance of adequate water-supply.
AAP launches #ModijiForgiveDelhi on Twitter
Meanwhile, photos and videos of alleged BJP workers laying siege to the Delhi Secretariat have left Twitterati fuming. "Absolutely shocking. How was it allowed? Who allowed this to happen? Where was Police, Security, Bureaucracy?" Kejriwal tweeted. The CM has also sought PM Narendra Modi's intervention, and retweeted a post claiming AAP will collect 10L signatures from Delhiites requesting Modi to "end IAS officers' strike."
Alleged BJP workers 'capture' Secretariat
Amid drama, the biggest losers are the people of Delhi
The impact of all this is being felt most by the common man. Residents have alleged eight-hour-long power-outages and continued water-shortage. Officials in the CMO said the weekly cabinet meeting scheduled for Tuesday has been indefinitely postponed. "Everyone, from bureaucrats to AAP to L-G to BJP, is stuck on prestige. In all of this, Delhiites are the biggest victims," said Sanjay Kumar, Director, CSDS.
