New Delhi, June 17 (UNI) Hours after Delhi IAS officers association on Sunday expressed concerns about their safety and alleged that misinformation is being spread about them being on 'strike' and denied that they were under pressure from any quarter, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday urged them to stop their boycott of elected government, return to work now and start attending all meetings of Ministers.
He also assured them that he would ensure their safety and security with all powers and resources available at his command.
In a tweet, the CM said the IAS officers in Delhi Government should work without fear or pressure and should not come under any pressures from any sources, whether state government or central government or any political party.
'My appeal to my officers of Delhi govt ....
I am told that IAS Officers Association has expressed concerns about their safety in a press conference today.
I wish to assure them that I will ensure their safety and security with all powers and resources available at my command. It is my duty. I have given similar assurances earlier also to many officers who have been meeting me privately. I reiterate it today.
The officers are a part of my family. I would urge them to stop their boycott of elected government, return to work now and start attending all meetings of Ministers, respond to their calls and messages and join them for field inspections. They should work without fear or pressure. They should not come under any pressures from any sources, whether state government or central government or any political party. '
Amid the ongoing stand-off between Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government over the issue of IAS officers' 'strike' and doorstep delivery of rations, Delhi IAS officers association on Sunday alleged that misinformation is being spread about them being on 'strike'.
Addressing a press conference here, Manisha Saxena of the IAS association, said, ' We have been targetted. We are not on 'strike'. The information that IAS officers in Delhi are on strike is completely false and baseless.
We are attending all meetings and no officer is on strike and all departments are doing their work. Sometimes we are even working on holidays.'
On allegations by Mr Kejriwal that they were being directed by the BJP government at the Centre, she said, 'We are completely apolitical and neutral and IAS officers cooperate with whichever government comes. We are answerable only to law and constitution.'
The stand-off between the Delhi Lieutenant Governor and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government continued on Sunday as the sit in protest by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Cabinet colleagues - Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain and Gopal Rai - at Mr Baijal's office entered day-seven.
Mr Kejriwal is leading the protest over the issue of IAS officers' strike and doorstep delivery of rations.
The Delhi Chief Minister and the three ministers are staging the sit-in protest at Raj Niwas since Monday evening and have said that they will camp in the waiting room in the LG House till their demands are met.
The sit in protest by Mr Sisodia and Mr Jain, who are sitting on an indefinite hunger strike on this issue, entered day five and six respectively on Sunday.
The AAP ministers on Monday demanded the Delhi Lieutenant Governor to direct the IAS officers, who are on strike in Delhi for past four months, to return to work.
They have also demanded that the LG punish those officers who struck work for past four months.
he Chief Minister and the AAP ministers also demanded that the LG approve Delhi government's doorstep delivery of ration scheme.
However, in a statement on June 11, the LG denied that the IAS officers are on strike.The LG House also said the file pertaining to the delivery of rations is pending with the Food and Civil Supplies Minister, and not with the LG.
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