New Delhi: The Indian Administration Services (IAS) association has rubbished the allegations leveled by Aam Aadmi Party President and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal that IAS officers in Delhi are on strike and are not cooperating with the government.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Sunday, the association said IAS officers are being used for political purpose. “We are feeling frightened and victimised. We are being used for completely political reasons,” said Varsha Joshi, an office bearer of the association.
The press conference was held in the backdrop of Kejriwal’s repeated allegation that IAS officers in Delhi are on a strike in connivance with the Centre to trouble the Delhi government. Both the Centre and the IAS association have rejected the charge.
Speaking about Kejriwal’s allegation that IAS officers are not attending meetings called by the government, Manisha Saxena, another office bearer of the association said, “I would like to inform that we are not on strike. The information that IAS officer in Delhi are on strike is completely false and baseless.”
She also said that the officers are “attending meetings” and that all departments are doing their work. “We are sometimes also working on holidays,” she said.
The IAS body also raised the case of the alleged manhandling of Delhi Chief Secretary by leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party at Kejriwal’s residence.
“We are very scared after what happened with the chief secretary. This is an issue that concerns not just IAS officers, but every government servant. If the chief secretary attended a meeting at the CM’s residence at midnight, how can this be non-coperation with the government,” Saxena asked.
She also refuted the allegations that the secretaries are not taking calls of ministers in Delhi. “All phone calls from ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker and MLAs are being answered,” she said.
