AAP-LG Rift: Kejriwal hits out at PM for 'stalling' state's functioning

The Aam Admi Party is likely to conduct a gherao of the PM residence today, demanding that the strike by bureaucrats in the city be called off.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: Delhi CM Arvind Kejirwal who has been protesting at the Raj Niwas from six consecutive days today hit out at Prime Minister Modi on micro-blogging site Twitter. From his verified account, Kejriwal questioned the security of democracy in the hands of a prime minister who supports the strike of administrative officers. He tweeted in Hindi :  "Good Morning Delhi, Is the democracy secure in the hands of a prime minister who puts administrative officers to strike and stalls the functioning of a state?"

Good morning Delhi

जो प्रधान मंत्री किसी राज्य में अफ़सरों की हड़ताल करवा के वहाँ का काम काज ठप करता है, क्या ऐसे प्रधान मंत्री के हाथों में देश का लोकतंत्र सुरक्षित है? — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 17, 2018

The Aam Admi Party is likely to conduct a gherao of the PM residence today, demanding that the strike by bureaucrats in the city be called off. On Saturday Chief Ministers of four non-BJP ruled states rallied behind their Delhi counterpart Kejriwal. At the press conference at Kejriwal's residence, West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee, Andhra Pradesh's N Chandrababu Naidu, Karnataka's H D Kumaraswamy and Kerala's Pinarayi Vijayan asked the Centre to resolve the "crisis" immediately. BJP leader Manoj Tiwari condmened the visit of the four CMs . He tweeted: “This is so unfortunate that the 4 CMs have allowed themselves to be part of this #DharnaTamasha Infact they should advise CM Delhi Arvind Kejriwal to;

• focus on resolving severe Drinking Water Crisis which the people of Delhi are now facing
• earn the confidence of Delhi officers”

Four strong regional parties - Trinamool Congress, Telugu Desam Party, Janata Dal (Secular) and Communist Party of India (Marxist), have chosen to extend tgeir support to the AAP further boosting opposition efforts to cobble together a rainbow coalition ahead of 2019 elections. The Congress that has been trying to helm the grand alliance has however been slamming the Delhi CM for his sit-in at the Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal’s office. As per PTI reports, Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy said "We came here to show our support to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. We demand that the Prime Minister interferes and takes necessary steps to solve the problem.” The chief ministers went to Kejriwal's home after they were "denied" permission by Baijal to meet Kejriwal at the Raj Niwas. As they arrived, AAP workers raised slogans against Baijal. "I wanted to meet the Delhi chief minister but I was told, verbally, that permission will not be granted. Then four of us wrote to the LG for an appointment, but we were told that he is not there. We were not allowed," Banerjee said.