AAP leaders and workers were joined by CPM, trade unionists, and some members of the public. (PTI)
A week after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and three of his ministers began a sit-in protest at the Lieutenant Governor's Raj Niwas, the Aam Aadmi Party staged a protest march from Mandi House in New Delhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence. Delhi police claimed that it had not received permission for the march and imposed prohibitory orders in the residential areas. Exits of metro stations such as Patel Chowk, Udgyog Bhavan, Central Secretariat and Lok Kalyan Marg were shut on orders of Delhi Police.
Delhi chief minister has accused the centre and Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal of backing
a four month-strike by IAS officers, who are protesting against the Kejriwal government. Mr Kerjiwal and his ministers have sought and end to the strike as well as approval for a new doorstep delivery of services scheme.
The sit-in began on
June 11 when Chief Minister went to the Raj Niwas in the evening, along with his Deputy Manish Sisodia, and two other ministers, Gopal Rai and Satyendra Jain. Mr Jain began an indefinite fast.
Chief Ministers of four non-BJP ruled states have backed Mr Kejriwal. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and her counterparts from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala planned to meet Mr Kejriwal at the Raj Niwas but were denied permission.
Here are the highlights of the AAP March:
Actor Prakash Raj's Swipe At PM Modi, Support For Arvind Kejriwal"Dear supreme leader.. we know u r busy with Fitbit challenge..yoga n exercise..can u spare a minute and take a deep breath.. look around ...and instruct bureaucrats to work with Chief Minister Kejriwal...(who is actually doing a good job ) and exercise your duty too..#justasking," (sic) Prakash Raj said on twitter.
AAP's march against centre ends at Delhi's Parliament Street, about 3 km from the Prime Minister's residence, after police stop them. About 4,000 people, including AAP volunteers, party workers, trade unionists, CPM workers, and members of the public took part in the march.
AAP Protest Contained At Parliament Street: Delhi Police"They don't have permission (for protest march). They've been contained at Parliament street and are being told that they can't go any further. Specially trained personnel are deployed. We're sure AAP protesters listen to us," DCP New Delhi says, news agency ANI reports
No Permission For AAP March, Say Police
"The New Delhi district has not received any permission of an AAP protest. Protest marches are banned in residential areas," says senior police officer Madhur Verma
Five metro stations have been shut down in Delhi and prohibitory orders imposed in residential areas near the route of the march by Arvind Kejriwal's AAP. The Delhi Chief Minister has been on a sit-in protest at Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's house.
AAP Workers, Supporters Stage Protest March To Prime Minister's Residence
AAP Leader Saurabh Bhardwaj Challenges IAS Officers Over Rule Book
After IAS officers in Delhi held a press conference to "clarify" their position, Saurabh Bhardwaj said, "Show me one rule in your code of conduct that says IAS officers can decide which meetings to attend/boycott".
Only Skip Meetings Where "Safety" Is At Risk, Says IAS Officers In Delhi
IAS officer Manisha Saxena says, "Routine meetings and statutory meetings are different, we attend the latter. We have no confidence, no one has reached out to us to boost our confidence."
"We are not working on anyone's behest, please communicate this. Camera recordings cannot show our mental anguish," IAS officers say at a press conference.
CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury Lends Support To AAP March"Joining the protest rally to the Prime Minister's residence today to express serious condemnation over the manner in which federalism, a fundamental feature of our Constitution, is being undermined by this BJP Central government," Mr Yechury says in a tweet.
IAS officers dismissed the allegations of being on strike as "completely false and baseless". The officers said they were carrying out inspections. "No officer is on strike or slowing down work... we are working on holidays as well. "We are not on strike," an officer said.
Only Answerable to Law And Constitution, Say IAS Officers
In response to the Kejriwal government's allegation that IAS officers are not meeting ministers or attending their phone calls, the officer say they are "completely apolitical, neutral. Governments come and go but we work with all with equal dedication. We are only answerable to the law and constitution"
What Happened With Chief Secretary Can Happen To Anyone Of Us: IAS Association
The IAS association says it is being victimised for political purposes. On the alleged assault of Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash, the association said they are observing 5 minutes of silence to everyday will continue doing so.
We Are Being Targeted, Misinformation Is Being Spread: IAS Association
Accused by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of being on strike, the IAS association says that no bureaucrat is not on strike, and they are attending all meetings. "We are working on holidays as well," the association said in a press briefing.
