Kejri calls off 9-day sit-in at LG’s office

Ananya Panda

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 19

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday called off his nine-day sit-in at the Lieutenant Governor’s office after IAS officers started attending meetings convened by AAP ministers, which Kejriwal called a “small victory”.

Earlier in the day, the IAS (AGMUT) Association said on Twitter that officers were waiting for a formal communication from the Delhi CM for a meeting at the Secretariat to resolve the Delhi crisis, a move furthering thaw between the AAP government and its bureaucracy.

The developments came days after Kejriwal assured bureaucrats of security and dignity, to which IAS officers reciprocated in positive and called off their strike.

IAS officers said they were open to deliberations with the Delhi Government. They took the first step on Monday as two senior officers attended a meeting over air pollution in the national capital called by Environment Minister Imran Hussain even as another officer, Food Commissioner, abstained from a meeting called by the same minister to review availability of ration in the city.

Addressing reporters at his residence here, Sisodia said several meetings, attended by IAS officers, including Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash, were held on Tuesday. “The CM is back home as officers have started attending meetings, something the ministers have been demanding from the LG,” said a senior leader of the Delhi Government.

At his residence, Kejriwal addressed his party workers. He said it was unfortunate if the LG was behind the strike by the IAS officers.

“Ninety-nine per cent of the IAS officers are very good. We have done a lot in power and water sectors and we could not have done this alone... But some officers in private told us that they were being pressurised not to work with the AAP government. We were silent for the last four months over the IAS officers' strike. But we wanted to resolve the issue. That is why we felt that the matter should be brought before the public. The battle for Delhi's statehood will continue,” the Delhi CM said

During the day, Kejriwal had written to the PM, alleging that LG Anil Baijal was not calling a meeting to resolve the Delhi impasse.