PTI, NEW DELHI: As Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s sit-in at the lieutenant governor’s office entered the 8th day, the Delhi government and its IAS officers today showed signs of a thaw with both sides expressing their readiness for talks to end the impasse.
The development came on a day the Delhi High Court virtually disapproved of the sit-in led by Kejriwal and asked the AAP government who had authorised such a protest even as Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who was on a hunger strike since June 13 at the LG’s office, was taken to hospital after his health deteriorated.
Later in the day, Sisodia wrote LG Anil Baijal requesting him to call a meeting between AAP ministers and the bureaucrats to resolve the issue. The chief minister had assured the officers yesterday he would ensure their safety and security.
The officers today welcomed Kejriwal’s assurance about their safety, saying they are open to formal discussions with the chief minister on the matter.
After Sisodia’s letter, Kejriwal tweeted, “I hope LG calls a meeting soonest to resolve this issue. (sic).”
The AAP said that the chief minister’s assurance was a “good step forward”, adding now it was the “responsibility” of the Centre and bureaucrats’ fraternity to reciprocate.
The officers said that they looked forward to “concrete interventions” for their security and dignity, a move that may break the four-month-long impasse between the AAP dispensation and the bureaucrats following an alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash by some ruling party MLAs at the chief minister’s residence in February.
The association of officers of the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union territories) cadre said that they continue to be at work with “full dedication” and “vigour”, rebutting the AAP charge that they were on strike.
