The continuing strike by the municipal employees that entered day ten on Friday may impact the safety and security of the national Capital if it does not end soon, according to Special Branch, the intelligence wing of the Delhi Police.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Special Branch KK Vyas in a communiqué to the Principal Secretary to lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung, Chief Secretary of Delhi and Commissioners of three MCDs has detailed the danger that the strike poses to the city.
The letter warned that as the strike — resulting in total breakdown of various essential services pertaining to health, education and engineering departments — progresses further it is likely to spread to all over Delhi with other associations and unions joining in.
In the communiqué, dated February 3, the Special Branch warned that the safai karamcharis may also take any extreme steps like self immolation to attract media/public attention in support of their demands.
“Any situation necessitating use of force or any untoward incident causing injury to any of the striking employees or even natural death of any of them could further aggravate the deteriorating situation as such incidents will be exploited fully by them and give everyone a rallying point to escalate this agitation even further,” the Communiqué said.
“The continuing strike has led to serious law and order problem with smooth traffic movement being severally impacted. The strike has also gravely impacted the general cleanliness and hygienic conditions in the city with garbage piling up on the streets. Approximately 8200 metric tonnes of garbage is generated every day.”
To bring an end to the strike, the city Government had agreed to provide loan to the civic bodies only after the l-G had written to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia that the on-going crisis could lead to law and order situation in the city.
In his letter, Jung has stated that the Delhi Police has now reported that the crisis may lead to a serious law and order situation. The l-G had said the situation demanded an immediate initiative. He had requested the Government to consider a loan to the municipal bodies on an emergency basis.
“In the interest of maintaining peace and tranquility in Delhi besides sanitation, peaceful resolution of issues is essential,” it said.