The Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi plunged into a crisis on Tuesday as Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash made a shocking allegation that he was beaten up by AAP MLAs at the chief minister's residence. The developments threatened to grow into a full blown confrontation between the AAP dispensation and the BJP-ruled Centre, as Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh sought a report on the issue from the Lt Governor, even as the Kejriwal regime accused the BJP of using officers to create obstacles in its work.
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Prakash, in his complaint to Lt Governor Anil Baijal, made the stunning accusation that he was manhandled by AAP MLAs at Kejriwal's residence, where he had gone to attend a meeting on Monday night. The senior bureaucrat, who met the Lt Governor on Tuesday, claimed that the MLAs attacked him over the issue of disbursal of funds for advertisements.
The Kejriwal government stared at a crisis situation, with officers up in arms over the alleged assault on Prakash. The IAS Officers Association, which met the Lt Governor and the home minister on the issue, said while they will not go on strike, they will not work beyond working hours, and will sport black bands in office. The officers said the situation represented a “functional crisis” for the government.
There was chaos at the Delhi Secretariat, as employees protested outside the Chief Minister's Office. High drama was witnessed, as minister Imran Hussain and AAP leader Aashish Khaitan alleged that they were manhandled at the secretariat by a group of people who posed as employees of the secretariat. The AAP said this was evidence of the sinister design of the BJP to not allow the Kejriwal government to function.
The AAP refuted the allegations made by Prakash. It issued a statement saying there was a meeting of MLAs at the chief minister's residence to discuss the issue of about 2.5 lakh families being deprived of rations last month due to faulty implementation of Aadhaar. The MLAs are under tremendous pressure from public, it said. The party rejected reports that the meeting discussed the issue of funds for advertisements.
“CS (Chief Secretary) refused to answer questions saying he was not answerable to MLAs and CM and that he was answerable only to LG. He even used bad language against some MLAs and left without answering any questions,” the party said.
MLAs Prakash Jarwal and Ajay Dutt have lodged a complaint with the SC/ST Commission, alleging that casteist slurs were made by Prakash at the meeting at Kejriwal's residence when they sought answers from him on rations.
The party alleges Prakash is acting at BJP's behest. It said the BJP was trying to disrupt governance in Delhi through the Lt Governor and officers.
According to a source in the chief minister's office, there was a heated argument between the lawmakers and the chief secretary, but no MLA indulged in any violence.
The incident could snowball into a major confrontation between the Centre and the AAP government, as Rajnath Singh stepped into the matter and sought a report on it from the Lt Governor. “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,” tweeted the home minister.