Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisoida started his indefinite hunger strike on Wednesday, 13 June, demanding Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal direct IAS officers to end their “strike” and take action against officers who have boycotting work for "four months". Sisodia joined Delhi minister Satyender Jain who began an indefinite hunger strike a day earlier on Tuesday, 12 June.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal released a video message for Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, from inside L-G’s house Raj Nivas, where he was protesting since Monday night, 11 June.
“The IAS officers are on strike for the last three months. They don’t attend meetings, don’t respond to any minister’s calls or messages. Don’t do work related to schools or colleges or hospitals. A lot of work in Delhi has come to a halt,” said Kejriwal in the video message released on Tuesday, 12 June.
Kejriwal added that his government has written to the L-G multiple times to urge him to get the strike terminated. The Aam Aadmi Party’s second demand was the home delivery of ration to the people of Delhi.
Our second demand is about the doorstep delivery of ration. We all know that the ration shops don’t open, with the ration guy being rude and charging extra money. We demand that these ration shops to close. We want the ration to be delivered to the doorsteps of the people as much as they are entitled to. These hassles will get over.Arvind Kejriwal to ANI
He added that he was protesting for the people of Delhi.
I am protesting for Delhi and the people of Delhi. So that they get benefits like schools, mohalla clinics, electricity and good roads. We are not sitting here for our sake.Arvind Kejriwal to ANI
It is the first time in the history of Delhi that the chief minister and his Cabinet colleagues spent the night at the L-G office to press for their demands.
Indefinite Fast
Delhi minister and AAP leader Satyander Jain began an indefinite fast on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, 12 June, Kejriwal tweeted from the L-G office, saying, “My dear Delhiites, good morning. Struggle continues.”
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia tweeted the letter written by four ministers to Baijal. The letter asks Baijal to take all necessary steps to end the "strike" by IAS officers.
A number of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs, party leaders, and workers have also camped near the L-G office, and the police have barricaded the area.
L-G Office Slams Kejriwal
The L-G office slammed Kejriwal's sit-in, saying it is another protest in the sequence of "dharna without reason.”
According to the government, IAS officers have been on strike since the alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash and are boycotting meetings with AAP ministers due to which public work is getting affected.
However, the officers’ association claimed that no officer is on strike and no work has been affected.
(With inputs from PTI)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)