Updated: Feb 21, 2018 | 01:41 IST | Times Now Digital
New Delhi: In a shocking and an unprecedented incident, Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash on Tuesday alleged that he was roughed up by Aam Aadmi Party MLAs during a meeting at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence on Monday night. A spokesperson for the AAP government as well as the party leaders, however, denied the claim, accusing Prakash of “making such ludicrous allegations”. They further claimed that Prakash made casteist remarks at the meeting. Meanwhile, demanding MLAs' apology, the Delhi government employees have gone on strike. Also, the Home Ministry has sought a report from Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal seeking details of the incident.
The AAP claims the meeting with the Delhi Chief Secretary was called to discuss "faulty implementation" of Aadhaar that "deprived about 2.5 lakh families of ration", while Prakash claimed TV advertisements were the discussion point. In a complaint letter submitted to the Delhi Police, Prakash has alleged that the MLAs shouted at him and abused him. The alleged assault has triggered a war of words between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the opposition parties, viz. the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress.
Meanwhile, IAS Association Secretary, Manisha Saxena, complained to Lt Governor Anil Baijal, claiming that the attack on Monday night was a "planned criminal conspiracy" against the top bureaucrat. The Delhi Government Employees Welfare Association (DGEWA) has demanded an action against the accused AAP MLAs who "manhandled" and "mistreated" the top bureaucrat.
Here are the LIVE updates:
- AAP leader Amanatullah Khan, who has been named in FIR, tweets: "Nothing went wrong at all, in Yesterday meeting @cmoffice. Allegation are completely base less and fabricated. Objective is to deliver the proper food supply to the poor citizen of Delhi.. @cs behavior was ruthless, irresponsible and sarcastic & politically motivated."
- Dependra Pathak, chief spokesman of the Delhi Police, says: "We have registered a case where it's said that yesterday late night, the Chief Secretary was called at the CM's residence where some MLAs were also present and the Chief Secretary was assaulted. An investigation has begun. Another complaint has been filed by a Delhi Minister where he has said that he was assaulted while he was taking the lift in Delhi Secretariat. We have registered a case and an investigation has been initiated."
- Government employees take to the streets, hold candlelight march against the alleged manhandling of Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash by AAP MLAs.
- An FIR has been lodged against AAP MLAs under Sections 186 (obstructing a public servant from performing the duty), 353 (assaulting a public servant), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 342, 504, 506(2) & 120b & 34.
- BJP workers protest near Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's residence.
- It is a sad situation when the Chief Secretary is being manhandled by MLAs, it is totally unacceptable and very very wrong, makes it worse if the CM was present there. The CM himself has been a civil servant, did he ever do this? Or what if this happened to him? Shameful: Congress leader Sheila Dikshit tells ANI
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इस हद तक का ग़ुस्सा है दिल्ली सरकार के कर्मचारियों को @ArvindKejriwal और उनके मंत्रियों से... देखिये कैसे मंत्री इमरान हुसैन अपनी जान बचाकर भागे दिल्ली सचिवालय से!
अगर केजरीवाल खुद को सही समझता है तो क्यों घर में छुपकर बैठा है? जाये सचिवालय और कर्मचारियों और लोगों का सामना करे!!
अगर केजरीवाल खुद को सही समझता है तो क्यों घर में छुपकर बैठा है? जाये सचिवालय और कर्मचारियों और लोगों का सामना करे!!
- After addressing a press conference, Khetan tweeted: "I just received a call from Hon'ble HM @rajnathsingh ji's office. I have been told that HM is very busy and he wont be able to meet me.'
- As a Home Minister, Rajnath Singh should first order an inquiry into the alleged assault on Chief Secretary. We request the Home Minister not to come to any conclusion by just listening to one party. Let there be an independent inquiry. In the interim, people of Delhi should not suffer. They are threatening that they won’t work. An attempt has been made to destabilise our government. What is the fault of the people of Delhi? Why is administration not working? People are suffering because of ‘no work’ by the administration. Some people at the Delhi Secretariat are shouting that ministers should be thrashed. Who are these people? We want to know whether they are officers or some outsiders: AAP leader Ashish Khetan
- I was attacked first. Then, MLA Imran Hussain was assaulted. It is astonishing that an attack has taken place at the Secretariat which is a high-security zone: Ashish Khetan
- It was a riot-like situation, a crowd had gathered who became violent and even raised slogans, we don't know who they were. Everything is on CCTV, it will be clear from it. Police were mute spectators: AAP leader Ashish Khetan on ruckus at the Delhi Secretariat
- AAP MLA Imran Hussain has also been assaulted inside the Delhi Secretariat.
- We have lodged a complaint with SC/ST Commission against the casteist comments made by the Delhi Chief Secretary: AAP MLA Prakash Jarwal
- We had asked him about an area where people were not getting basic facilities like medicine, the Chief Secretary suddenly shouted 'maine Daliton ki thekedaari nahi le rakhi hai'. His temper was high. He said that 'you are not fit to be MLA, I will only reply to the L-G': AAP MLA Prakash Jarwal to news agency ANI
- It is shameful that the Chief Secretary was manhandled in the presence of Arvind Kejriwal. The Home Minister assured that there will be inquiry into this incident of assault: IAS Officers Association
- Home Minister Rajnath Singh reacts to the controversy, says: "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."
- We are not going to resume work till an action is not taken. Today, we will take out a candle march at Rajghat in protest. The Home Minister has said he has asked for a report: DN Singh
- Key points in Prakash's complaint copy are: ‘AAP wanted funds for AAP ads’, ‘MLAs shouted at me and abused me’, ‘Without any provocation, MLA started hitting me’, ‘No casteist slurs made against MLAs’
- Times Now accesses the complaint letter written by Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash to police. It says the meeting was not over PDS but about publicity. No casteist slur was made against MLAs, he adds.
- The AAP is worried now that they cannot win the 20 seats from where its party’s MLAs have been disqualified. This is the reason for such an attack on the chief secretary. Does such CM have the right to stay on his post? Such CM has no moral responsibility to stay on the post. He must resign immediately: Patra
- The constitutional crisis that has come to the fore in Delhi today is something which is very worrying...The way Arvind Kejriwal and his MLAs behaved was appaling and absolutely condemnable. This is not the way democracy functions: Sambit Patra
- AAP has become synonymous with anarchy. From an abusing and accusing party, the AAP has become an anarchy party, says BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra
- Delhi Chief Secretary meets Home Minister Rajnath Singh; Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba is also present
- The Home Ministry seeks a report from the Delhi L-G over the details of the incident.
- Delhi Chief Secretary speaks exclusively to Times Now, says the details of the complaint are in the FIR. Denying the allegations made by the AAP against him, Anshu Prakash told the channel that the said discussion when the incident is said to have taken place was about the Delhi government's publicity plan for the next three years.
- The AAP has released a video showing the ruckus inside the Delhi Secretariat.
- Rebel AAP leader Kapil Mishra tweets:
Confirmed information - During the meeting, Ration and Aadhar was not discussed at all.
Only issue discussed was "Advertisement"
Two MLAs attacked Delhi Chief Secretray in front of CM after CM abused Cheif Secy.
Only issue discussed was "Advertisement"
Two MLAs attacked Delhi Chief Secretray in front of CM after CM abused Cheif Secy.
- This is an attempt to intimidate the bureaucracy. It was all pre-planned: Manisha Saxena
- Prakash was called for a meeting around midnight on Monday where Kejriwal along with his deputy Manish Sisodia and 10 to 12 MLAs were present. The meeting was on "some advertisements by the Delhi government which were in violation of the Supreme Court's guidelines", says Saxena. "For the past couple of years, officers have been insulted and humiliated in public. The attack on the Chief Secretary is an attempt to intimidate the bureaucracy to toe the line of the powers that be." She, however, refuses to name the MLAs who attacked the Chief Secretary.
- IAS Association Secretary, Manisha Saxena, speaks to the media after a meeting with Baijal. She says they have asked the Lt Governor to take strict action against the accused MLAs. She also says that the officers would work on Tuesday with a black band as a mark of protest and that the association has also filed a police complaint.
- Now, AAP's Ashish Khetan alleges assault inside the Delhi Secretariat. Police have been called in.
- We are going on a strike with immediate effect, we are with our Chief Secretary until they (those at fault) are not arrested we will not get back (to work): DN Singh
- Talking to reporters after meeting the L-G, DGEWA president DN Singh said: "We have urged the L-G to take legal action against those who are responsible. This is like a constitutional crisis, never seen such a thing happen in the past many years."
- The Delhi Government Employees Welfare Association (DGEWA) demands an action against the accused AAP MLAs who "manhandled" and "mistreated" the top bureaucrat.
- "In total, nine AAP MLAs were present at the CM's residence when the Chief Secretary was assaulted. They represent people of Delhi but are nothing short of urban naxalites. How utterly disgusting behaviour," Gupta says.
- BJP MLA Vijender Gupta, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, alleges that Kejriwal "in his dictatorial style" called the Chief Secretary at midnight on Monday and "berated" him in front of his MLAs. He adds that Kejriwal was "drunk on power" and his concern was only about why more funds were not dispersed for advertisements. "Such is the state of affairs under AAP."
- It shows how the AAP is involved in malpractices and corruption. If something good happens, Kejriwal and his MLAs take credit, and in case of something bad, the onus falls on the government. Iss tarah se haathapaai karna, koi gundagardi hai kya?: Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit
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केजरीवाल सरकार ने तो जनता को मारा ही है (Zero Development, प्रदूषण)
और अब मुख्य सचिव पर AAP विधायकों ने हमला किया! सूत्रों के मुताबिक 2 विधायकों ने केजरीवाल के घर पर हो रही मीटिंग में चीफ सेक्रेटरी अंशु प्रकाश के साथ हाथापाई की, इनमें से एक विधायक अमानतुल्लाह ख़ान। What a shame!
और अब मुख्य सचिव पर AAP विधायकों ने हमला किया! सूत्रों के मुताबिक 2 विधायकों ने केजरीवाल के घर पर हो रही मीटिंग में चीफ सेक्रेटरी अंशु प्रकाश के साथ हाथापाई की, इनमें से एक विधायक अमानतुल्लाह ख़ान। What a shame!
- Prakash Jarwal, an AAP MLA present at the meeting, sent an e-mail to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday, demanding that an FIR be lodged against Prakash. He claimed that the Chief Secretary made casteist remarks at him and another MLA Ajay Dutt when they asked him why Dalit families were not getting rations.
- In a statement, the Aam Aadmi Party said: "About 2.5 lakh families deprived of rations last month due to faulty implementation of Aadhaar. MLAs were under tremendous pressure from the public. There was a meeting of MLAs at CM residence. The Chief Secretary refused to answer questions, saying he was not answerable to MLAs and the CM, and that he was answerable only to L-G. He used bad language against some MLAs and left without answering any questions. Now, he is making ludicrous allegations."
