Bureaucrats working on Centre orders: Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on top bureaucrats alleging that they were trying to destablise governance in the city at the behest of the Centre.

The chief minister made it clear that the bureaucrats will have to toe the line of the AAP government. Addressing a function organised to celebrate the Civil Services Day, Mr Kejriwal said: “If they don’t, they should resign and give space to others. Those who are at 45 years and above may also give it a thought whether to continue or not.”

Mr Kejriwal said strike by the bureaucrats on December 31 last year had hampered odd-even car rationing scheme’s first pilot project in the city. “How could a bureaucrat refuse to sign a proposal approved by the Cabinet When we suspended them, they went on a strike. Such thing has never happened in the history of this country. We are going to rule in Delhi for the next 15 years. Those, who are 45 years and above, should be clear whether they would toe the line of the government or not Bureaucracy would have to toe the line of my government. If they don’t, they can resign or go elsewhere,” said Mr Kejriwal, drawing battlelines with the senior bureaucrats in the city.

The AAP government was not happy with the mass casual leave taken by the bureaucrats to protest against suspension of two special secretaries of the home department on December 31.

During an interaction, a Danics officer said that the bureaucrats were unable to decide what they should do. “We are sandwiched between the Centre and the state. What to do and what not Senior bureaucrats should come forward to resolve this stalemate.” The officer suggested that there should be a dialogue commission on the lines of the Delhi Dialogue Commission to address the problems being faced by the bureaucrats.