Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party out on streets, appeals to city to join

NEW DELHI: While chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and three Delhi ministers sit on protest inside Raj Niwas, the Aam Aadmi Party decided to launch a campaign outside to pressure lieutenant governor Anil Baijal on the CM’s demands — directing the bureaucrats to end their ‘strike’, punishment for the ‘striking’ government officers and approval of the scheme on the doorstep delivery of ration.Saying the so-called strike was affecting the capital’s citizens, AAP sources added that the protest would intensify till the “demands are honoured”.

On Tuesday, AAP decided at a meeting of party MLAs at Kejriwal’s residence that the legislators, municipal councillors and party leaders and activists would march to Raj Niwas to support the CM and three ministers who are protesting there since Monday evening. Other agitational programmes are being planned from Thursday.

“A dangerous situation has developed in Delhi in the last four months because the IAS officers are on strike and are avoiding meetings,” AAP Delhi spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj said in an appeal on social media. “Despite the water crisis, the officers are not coming to meetings. The drains have not been de-silted and there could be huge water logging problems during the monsoon, preventive measures against dengue are required but the IAS officers are not attending meetings.”

The appeal further said, “The LG is supporting the strike. CM and ministers are sitting on dharna inside Raj Niwas to get the strike ended, but the LG is not doing anything about it. We are going to organise a march to LG House. I appeal to you to come and join the march.” Similar appeals were issued by other AAP leaders. AAP Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh again hit out at the Prime Minister and alleged, “At the instance of Narendra Modi, the LG has crippled Delhi government.”
This protest and the Delhi statehood campaign are likely to set the tone for AAP’s 2019 general election preparations. The party is also in touch with other opposition leaders on the situation rising from the CM’s dharna.