Manish Sisodia claims resolution by bureaucrats ‘political’

New Delhi: Escalating the conflict between bureaucracy and political leadership in Delhi, the AAP government on Wednesday took on IAS and Delhi Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service (Danics) associations for passing a resolution accusing Mr Kejriwal’s Cabinet of humiliating them and issuing gag orders.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia termed the resolution as “political” in nature and said the representatives of the associations met him on Wednesday to discusses their grouse with the Delhi ministers.

A section of bureaucrats have adopted delaying tactics in clearing important files, Mr Sisodia said, and warned erring bureaucrats of punitive action. Training his guns on lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung, Mr Sisodia said the government will not hesitate to “expose” him if he gives those officials a free hand to stall government work.

Earlier on Tuesday, the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory)-cadre IAS Officers Association and Danics Officers Association jointly passed a resolution condemning  the behaviour of the Delhi government’s “political executives (read as ministers and chairpersons of various boards).”

Defending health minister Satyendar Jain’s acerbic remarks against his health secretary, Mr Sisodia said the government will rein in on truant officials. It may be recalled that early this week, Mr Jain had accused the health secretary of being “incompetent” after he failed to reach a Delhi government-run hospital on a short notice. According to Mr Jain, one person had died allegedly due to lack of ventilators in the hospital. Mr Sisodia said a number of key projects including increasing number beds in government hospitals from 10,000 to 20,000, setting up mohalla clinics and Aam Aadmi canteen could not be started as files relating to them have not been cleared by officers for months.