IAS officers' 'strike' being instigated by BJP: Kejriwal
New Delhi, June 16: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said that IAS officers were under pressure and their "strike" was being instigated by the BJP.
Kejriwal, who has garnered support from opposition parties including the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Telugu Desam Party, CPI and CPI-M, also attacked the Congress and said: "Rahul Gandhi should clear his stand if he is with the BJP or the people of Delhi."
In an interview to CNN News, he also claimed that his government does not enjoy as much power as former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit did.
"I do not even have the power to transfer a peon, but Dikshit had the power to transfer the officers and even to arrest them on corruption charges," he said.
Accusing the BJP of "instigating" the IAS strike, he said: "BJP is forcing the officers to continue the strike. The party is under pressure as the AAP government in Delhi is working hard. I am here for the people of Delhi and will ensure that things will change."
Kejriwal, along with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and cabinet ministers Satyendar Jain and Gopal Rai, has been camping in the Raj Niwas -- the official accommodation-cum-office of Lt Governor -- since Monday evening.
"We are here for past six days. We are sitting here in helplessness. The IAS officers in Delhi are on a strike for past three months. They are coming to the office to clear files. There are not taking part in any official meetings. They don't pick up phones, reply to our texts even in emergency situations. They don't come for field inspections with the ministers. A government cannot function like this. We are sitting here to end that strike," he added.
On the accusation that his strike has paralyzed the governance, he said: "The government is not functioning due to the IAS strike and not due to our sit-in. We are compelled to take this step."
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Petrol pump worker killed as SUV hits motorcycle head-on in Gurugram
Gurugram (PTI): A petrol pump worker died after an SUV rammed into his motorcycle in the Sushant Lok area here, police said on Thursday.
The accused driver fled the scene, leaving the vehicle after the accident. An FIR has been registered at the Sushant Lok police station, they said.
According to police, the accident occurred on Wednesday afternoon when Mukesh was travelling from Sector 44 to Sushant Lok on Vyapar Kendra Road for some work.
Near Vyapar Kendra, a white Thar coming from the wrong side at high speed hit his motorcycle head-on, leaving him critically injured, they said.
The driver fled the scene, leaving the vehicle behind, police added.
Eyewitnesses claimed the vehicle had no number plates either at the front or rear.
Locals took Mukesh to a private hospital, where he died during treatment, police said. He was a resident of Rohta Patti in Palwal and worked at a petrol pump in Sector 44.
An FIR was registered against the unidentified driver, based on a complaint lodged by his brother Ashok. The body was handed over to the family after a post-mortem on Thursday, police said.
“The Thar vehicle has been seized from the spot. CCTV footage from the area is being examined, and the driver will be arrested soon,” a Gurugram police spokesperson said.
