New Delhi, Feb 20: In yet another faceoff between the Delhi legislature and the state's bureaucracy, the topmost IAS officer of NCR region - Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash - alleged physical assault by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence. His charge has been denied by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).
Prakash on Tuesday met Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal to narrate the ordeal which happened last night. The Chief Secretary said he was called by the CM to discuss the release of state government's advertisement. At his residence, the AAP MLAs manhandled him after an argument, the senior bureaucrat alleged.
The IAS officers' association in Delhi have demanded the LG to order an FIR into the incident.
The ruling AAP was quick to retaliate, accusing the Chief Secretary of making "wild allegations" against the party MLAs.
AAP claimed the meeting was called by Kejriwal to discuss the non-delivery of ration to several households due to the glitches in the Aadhaar system. The issue of advertisements was not discussed, the party said in its statement.
"There was a meeting of MLAs at the CM's residence. The CS refused to answer questions, saying that he was not answerable to MLAs and the CM, and that he was answerable only to the LG. He (Prakash) even used bad language against some of the MLAs and left without answering any questions," said the press release issued by Kejriwal's party.
AAP further accused Prakash of acting on behest of the BJP -- the ruling party at Centre. "The BJP has stooped very low in disrupting governance in Delhi through the LG and officers. If the CS can make such wild allegations, one can imagine the kind of obstacles that are being created in AAP government's work by the BJP through the officers," it added.
Meanwhile, the IAS officers' association has announced that it would wear a black badge to work till action is not taken against the AAP MLAs involved in the alleged assault.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 20, 2018 03:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).