‘No change in stand, CM must apologise’

New Delhi: Terming the reports, that it has changed its stance on the issue of the alleged assault on Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash, as “baseless,” the Delhi Government Employees Welfare Association has asserted that all the officials are “united to fight for the dignity and safety” of Mr Prakash and other employees.

The statement came a day after the association’s president, Dayanand Singh, and a few other officials met chief minister Arvind Kejriwal at his residence on Holi.

“We have not changed our stand on the assault of the chief secretary. We are all united to fight for the dignity and safety of the chief secretary and all other government employees. Our movement will continue and intensify until the chief minister apologises for the misconduct of the MLAs, who assaulted and misbehaved with the CS,” the association’s general secretary, Deepak Bharadwaj, said.

A joint forum of Delhi government employees, including IAS and Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Services (Danics) officers, have been boycotting meetings with AAP ministers since the alleged assault on Mr Prakash, demanding a written public apology from the chief minister for the incident.

In a statement, Mr Singh said he met Mr Kejriwal at his official residence after receiving information that “his mother is serious and admitted in a hospital.” “This was absolutely my personal visit,” Mr Singh added.

The IAS and Danics officers have maintained only written communication with Mr Kejriwal and his Cabinet colleagues in protest against the alleged attack on the chief secretary. Mr Prakash has alleged that he was assaulted by some AAP MLAs during an official meeting at Mr Kejriwal’s residence on the night of February 19.

Earlier this week, nearly 500 Delhi government employees carried out a candlelight march in his support.