Manoj Tiwari: Kejriwal's sit-in 'mockery of democracy'

New Delhi: Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari on Tuesday said the sit-in by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Cabinet colleagues at the lieutenant-governor’s (L-G) office was a “mockery of democracy.”

Mr Kejriwal and his Cabinet colleagues spent the night at L-G Anil Baijal’s office to press for their demands, including a direction to IAS officers to end their “strike” and action against officers who have struck work for “four months.”

The Leader of the Opposition in Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta, said the arm-twisting and threatening political strategy of Mr Kejriwal and his team against the L-G and IAS officers is an attack on the country’s constitutional authorities and democratic principles.

Mr Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia, labour minister Gopal Rai, and health minister Satyendar Jain met Mr Baijal at 5.30 pm on Monday. Since then, they stayed put there.

Mr Tiwari tweeted, “Making mockery of democracy, No Work only drama (sic).” The L-G’s office slammed Mr Kejriwal’s sit-in, saying it was another protest in the sequence of “dharna without reason.”

Mr Gupta pointed out that the L-G occupies constitutional post and he represents the President of India. Any attack on him is an attack on the nation’s Constitution and its democratic values.  

He alleged the high voltage drama enacted, on Monday night, at Raj Niwas after meeting the L-G was meticulously planned to the minutest detail.

“The august office of the L-G was attacked 11 times at the press conference and 10 times in the Vidhan Sabha, on Monday, as part of the strategy. The night-long forcible occupation of the L-G’s house and illegal demand for action against the IAS officers clearly establishes the anarchist mind set of Mr Kejriwal. The behaviour of the CM and his ministers, MLAs, and workers is against the democratic values,” said Mr Gupta.

According to him, the officers are performing their duties with due diligence even after the incident involving the chief minister and chief secretary in February. The officers helped the government in preparation of the Budget.

The deputy chief minister profusely thanked the officers for their unstinted cooperation in preparing the same.