In a meeting of IAS Officers’ Association on Wednesday, the officers took strong exception to Chief Minister Kejriwal’s allegation against acting Chief Secretary Shakuntala Gamlin and accused the Arvind Kejriwal Government of undue harassment. All the serving and former IAS officers came down heavily on the AAP Government for targeting and insulting bureaucrats. They alleged that officers were being victimised by the current dispensation.
Former Chief Secretary Omesh Saigal said that it was highly unbecoming on part of the Chief Minister to raise the issue of Gamlin in a public meeting. In the meeting, organised to address the grievances of the auto-rickshaw drivers, the Chief Minister sought to run down the reputation of a senior woman bureaucrat. Those present in the meeting were least concerned about the process to select the Chief Secretary, he added.
During the meeting, the issues of ‘show-cause notices’ to Chief Secretary KK Sharma and Principal Secretary (Home) Dharam Pal were raised. Secretary of Chief Minister Rajender Kumar said that he too was issued a show-cause notice during the 49 days Government of the AAP. The association also criticised the humiliation meted out to Principal Secretary (Services) Anindo Majumdar and how he was prevented to enter his office by the Chief Minister’s Office.
Majumdar said that in his 29 years of service he never faced such humiliation as was handed out to him by this Government. When he reached the Delhi secretariat on Monday, he found his office locked on orders of the Chief Minister. Officers also took exception to the shabby treatment meted out to Arvind Ray as he was kept without any posting for over 45 days.
A resolution was passed by the association, a copy of which will be submitted to the President, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet Secretary, the Union Home Secretary, the lt Governor and the Chief Minister. None of the officers said even a single word of praise for the AAP Government. Chaired by the acting Chief Secretary, the meeting was held on the premises of Central Services Officers Institute (CSOI) situated in lutyen’s Zone. Former Chief Secretaries PK Tripathi, Ramesh Narayanswami and DM Spolia also attended the meeting.
Majumdar gives Sisodia’s meet a miss
Anindo Majumdar was not present in the high-level meeting called by the Deputy CM Manish Sisodia on Wednesday to discuss the various provisions in the Constitution, the Government of NCT of Delhi Act and Transaction of Business of the Delhi Government. He went on a one-day casual leave on Wednesday. He however attended the meeting of Delhi IAS officers’ association.