New Delhi: Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal on Tuesday wrote to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asking him to convene a meeting with officers to sort out the differences between the elected government and the bureaucrats.
The LG’s letter to Kejriwal was in response to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s letter to Baijal on Monday, seeking help end the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers’ strike in the national capital.
“LG has written that earlier also, he had advised to make efforts to restore trust between the elected government and the officers,” a statement from Baijal’s office said.
Baijal said he was glad that Kejriwal had tweeted an appeal to the officers assuring them of safety and security in their interactions with the elected government. The chief minister had assured the officers on Sunday that he would ensure their safety and security if they attend the meeting called by ministers.
The officers had welcomed Kejriwal’s assurance about their safety, saying they are open to formal discussions with the chief minister on the matter.
LG said that he has been informed that the officers have also welcomed the appeal and they are awaiting Kejriwal’s presence in the Secretariat to hold discussions.
“LG requested Hon’ble CM to urgently meet the officers in the Secretariat so that apprehensions and concerns of both sides can be suitably addressed through dialogue in the best interest of the people of Delhi,” the statement said.
Earlier, the IAS officers said they were waiting for a formal communication from Kejriwal for a meeting at the secretariat to end the impasse.
The chief minister had, however, sought to put the ball in the LG’s court, saying he is awaiting a response from LG Anil Baijal.
Meanwhile, AAP MLAs Somnath Bharti and A K Bagga, who were seeking an appointment to meet Baijal, were allegedly removed by the police from the LG’s office where they had gone to attend a DDA meeting.
Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues have been holding a sit-in at the LG’s office since June 11, demanding a direction to the officers to end their “strike”.