Unprecedented: Arvind Kejriwal faces silent protest at secretariat

It is unprecedented in the history of Delhi that instead of welcoming the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on his arrival at Delhi Secretariat for the cabinet meeting, government employees stood silently in protest wearing black badges. After the incident of alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash by Aam Aadmi Party MLAs in presence of the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister last Monday, it was the first time that Kejriwal arrived at Delhi Secretariat. It was decided in the cabinet meeting, attended by Chief Secretary, that the forthcoming budget session of Delhi Legislative Assembly will commence from March 16 and end on March 28.

Earlier in the morning, the Joint Forum of the Delhi Government Employees met to discuss the matter of participation of Chief Secretary in today’s cabinet meeting. According to their press release “The Forum acknowledges that the public interest is paramount, and the budget exercise is core and crucial to government functioning so the Chief Secretary will attend the meeting, but protest will continue”.

Meanwhile the bail plea of AAP MLAs Prakash Jarwal and Amanatullah Khan were dismissed by Tis Hazari Court. Backdoor negotiations are reportedly on to find some way out of the stand-off, but the stand of the government employees remain same and they are adamant that the Chief Minister should tender an apology for the incident.

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