Delhi Dharna Slugfest Ends: L-G Anil Baijal Breaks Week-Long Silence, Tells Arvind Kejriwal to 'Urgently Meet' IAS Officers
Hours before ending the dharna today, Kejriwal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, bluntly blaming him for "paralysing the functioning of the state government".
New Delhi, June 19: Bringing to a close the dharna politics underway in the national capital, L-G Anil Baijal reportedly communicated with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, urging him to meet the IAS officers at the Delhi Secretariat at the earliest. Shortly after the Lieutenant Governor's reconciliatory message, the Aam Aadmi Party called an end to its nine-day-old sit-in at the L-G's office.
Delhi's Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, while addressing reporters, said the legislators of AAP, along with CM Kejriwal, have decided to end the dharna. "The Chief Minister would be leaving the L-G's premises in a short while," he said.
The demonstration was called on June 11 by the ruling AAP to protest against the alleged strike of IAS officers in Delhi. Kejriwal claimed the bureaucrats, who report to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), have been instructed by the BJP-ruled Centre to not to cooperate with the elected government of the state.
During the course of dharna, Kejriwal's deputy Sisodia and State Health Minister Satyendra Jain were hospitalised as the duo were on an indefinite hunger strike "till the L-G instructs the IAS officers to end their strike".
Hours before ending the dharna today, Kejriwal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, bluntly blaming him for "paralysing the functioning of the state government".
"This democratic system will crumble if the central government stops state governments from doing their work on some pretext or the other. I request you, once more, to let us work for the people of Delhi and direct the LG to solve this crisis at the earliest. The people of Delhi will be grateful to you," Kejriwal said in his letter.
Meanwhile, the IAS AGMUT (Arunachal, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories) Association, indicated a reconciliatory approach earlier in the day, saying they are committed towards resolving the governance crisis in the national capital. The IAS officers, however, reiterated that they are awaiting a formal communication from the CM assuring their safety and protection of dignity.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 19, 2018 06:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).