Kejriwal invites chief secy for tea at L-G’S behest, babus insist on written apology
NEWDELHI: About 10 days after he was accused of maintaining silence over the alleged assault on chief secretary Anshu Prakash, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is believed to have personally invited Prakash to discuss the matter over tea, officials privy to the development said.
Kejriwal on Thursday sent a message to Prakash on Whatsapp asking if he could meet him at 12 noon. But the meeting never took place as the chief secretary sought to reschedule the time and requested if he could bring along a few bureaucrats to explain the situation.
“The CM called Prakash for a cup of tea to which the CS replied he wanted to bring two to three other officers along. After that there was no reply from the CM,” an official who did not wish to be named said.
Since Prakash accused AAP MLAS of assaulting him, ministers Rajendra Pal Gautam and Kailash Gahlot from the Delhi government’s political executive had been making truce attempts.
While calls and messages to Prakash went unanswered, the Delhi government spokesperson refused to comment on the matter.
Confirming Kejriwal’s Whatsapp message, another government official said that the CM also informed Prakash that he was sending the invite as per the L-G’S wish.
Another official said that the Kejriwal’s invitation to the CS was discussed by the Joint Forum of Delhi Government Employees, which decided to continue with the demand of a written apology because of the “tone of the message”.
Later, on the same day (Thursday), Prakash received a breach of privilege notice from the Delhi Assembly for not attending the proceedings of one of its committees.
With no compromise in sight from either side, the conflict between the Aam Aadmi Party government and its bureaucracy has entered third week.
On Monday, officials across Delhi government offices continued to boycott meetings with ministers and engaged in only written communication. The five-minute silent protest during lunch time also continued with officers demanding a written apology from either Kejriwal or deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia.
Kejriwal, at whose residence Prakash was allegedly manhandled, came to the secretariat and chaired a pre-budget meeting. While Prakash did not attend, principal secretary (finance) SN Sahai attended the meeting that was also attended by Sisodia.
Prakash also had to attend the proceedings of the Delhi Assembly’s Question and Reference Committee which he skipped citing medical reasons.
It is to be seen if Prakash attends the Cabinet meeting scheduled on Tuesday. The meeting is crucial as the chief secretary has been asked to submit a note on the progress of launching the scheme of delivering monthly ration at the doorsteps of the beneficiaries.