Delhi CS filed FIR against 2 AAP Lawmakers
NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash on Tuesday met Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and registered a complaint against two ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs for allegedly assaulting him. Prakash alleged that he was assaulted by Ajay Dutt and Prakash Jharwal at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence on Monday evening.
The Chief Minister’s office has denied the allegations and said the incident never took place. “Delhi CM office strongly denies allegations by the Chief Secretary. There was no incident of assault or attempted assault by any AAP MLAs,” a statement from Kejriwal’s office said.
The IAS officers’ body condemned the “appalling and shocking physical assault.” “We condemn and protest the physical assault by MLAs on Chief Secretary in CM’s residence in presence and with consent of CM & Deputy CM.
The officers rule out planning a strike and say that they will continue to work in their offices but request “effective action” against people behind the incident. They also deny earlier media reports that IAS cadre were planning to strike work.
The appalling and shocking physical assault meted out to the Head of the Administration of Delhi, in the form of blows on the head, amounting to threat to life and physical safety, is deplorable,” said a statement by the IAS Association of Delhi.
The Delhi Police have filed an FIR on a complaint from Mr. Prakash under various sections, including 120B (criminal conspiracy), 186 (obstructing a public servant from performing the duty) and 353 (assault on public servant) against AAP’s Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan and others.
AAP leader Ashish Khetan says at a press conference that there was a “riot like situation” at the Delhi Secretariat. Slogans of ‘maro, maro’ [beat them up] were heard, he claims. ”Environment Minister Imran Hussain has filed a compliant after both of us were attacked at the Secretariat,” he says.
He denies that the Chief Secretary was assaulted by his party MLAs. Prakash of “making such ludicrous allegations” at the “BJP’s behest.”The AAP says the meeting was called to discuss the problem of people not getting rations due to “faulty implementation of Aadhaar.”
The Civil Lines police station on Tuesday receives a complaint from Mr. Prakash against 11 AAP MLAs. Sources say the police have sought legal opinion before initiating any action.
In a strong-worded tweet, Union Home Minister condemns the incident. “I am deeply pained by the happenings involving the Chief Secretary of the Delhi Government. The civil servants should be allowed to work with dignity and without fear.
The MHA has sought a report on the incident from the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. Justice will be done. A delegation of IAS DANICS & Subordinate Services of Delhi Government met me today and apprised me of the prevailing situation,” he says.
“CS refused to answer questions saying that he was not answerable to MLAs and CM and that he was answerable only to the LG. He even used bad language against some MLAs and left without answering any questions,” the AAP statement read.
However, officials present at the meeting say the topic of discussion was an advertisement campaign being planned to mark three years of the AAP government. There was a disagreement over advertisement rates, says a source, adding that the Chief Secretary was assaulted by at least two AAP MLAs.
One of the AAP MLAs present at the meeting, Prakash Jarwal alleges that the Chief Secretary made casteist remarks at him and another MLA Ajay Dutt when they asked why Dalit families were not getting rations. In an email to the LG on Tuesday, Mr. Jarwal demands that an FIR be lodged against Mr. Prakash.(With Agency Inputs ).
