New Delhi: In another unprecedented development, Delhi government’s information and public relations secretary, Dr Jayadev Sarangi, has claimed that he was abused and threatened by deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in the presence of chief secretary Anshu Prakash, who himself was recently assaulted by AAP legislators at chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence.
Dr Sarangi has claimed that the deputy CM used abusive language, amounting to character assassination, against him. He claimed that Mr Sisodia also threatened him in Hindi, saying “Sarangi, tumhara jeena haram kar doonga” (Sarangi, I will make your life miserable).
In a complaint to the Raj Niwas in December last year, Dr Sarangi said that he, along with the CS, was called by Mr Sisodia to his office at 1.30 pm. He said that the deputy CM had sought an explanation for not publishing an advertorial of the health department on the handling of dengue. The complaint said: “It was explained to him that the department had requested to adhere to the Supreme Court’s guidelines on photographs and its publication in all Indian editions. In a similar matter, the case is pending adjudication in the high court and the Supreme Court of India. Further, the CAG has raised objections on such expenditures in the past.”
Dr Sarangi said that right from the time he joined government service, he had been receiving threats to his life and reputation from terrorists, criminals, and land mafia. However, owing to onerous responsibilities he had been discharging his duties. He said that the government has also provided him with security, as and when necessary, to help him discharge his responsibilities fearlessly.
He said this was the first time that he received a threat from a person in a very high position of authority with millions of followers of all kinds in social media and community.
“Since then I am spending sleepless nights worrying about harm to my life, limb, and reputation at any place at any point of time. Therefore, the matter may be brought to the urgent attention of the hon’ble chief minister and hon’ble lieutenant-governor,” he added.
