NEW DELHI, JUNE 16,
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday alleged that there is de facto President’s Rule in Delhi because of what the AAP government describes as an ongoing IAS officers’ strike.
Mr. Kejriwal made the allegation as his sit-in along with his three cabinet colleagues at the waiting room of Lt. Governor Anil Baijal’s office entered its sixth day.
Mr. Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia, and ministers Satyendar Jain and Gopal Rai, have stayed put at the office demanding that Mr. Baijal direct IAS officers to end their “strike” and approve doorstep ration delivery scheme.
In response to a tweet about IAS officers withdrawing from work being de facto President’s rule, Mr. Kejriwal tweeted, “I agree. It is de facto President’s rule in Delhi thro IAS strike (sic).”
The chief minister on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention in the issue.
The IAS officers’ association has maintained that no officer is on “strike“.
Also, Mr. Sisodia on Friday released a video warning that if they are forcibly removed from the L-G Secretariat, they will stop drinking water too.
Sources said Mr. Baijal, who has been working from his residence after the sit-in by AAP ministers, has constituted three teams of doctors to examine the health of ministers.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court will be hearing a plea on Monday seeking direction to the L-G to ensure that the alleged informal strike by IAS officers of Delhi is called off and they perform their duties as public servants.
The petition comes in the backdrop of another plea filed on Thursday in the court seeking that the sit-in by Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues at the L-G office against the “strike” by the IAS officers be declared unconstitutional and illegal.
This plea against Mr. Kejriwal’s sit-in was also listed for hearing for Monday.
