Delhi chief secy ‘assault’: AAP MLA says officers who create hurdles in work should be beaten up

The Aam Aadmi Party, however, distanced itself from the MLA’s remark, saying it condemned the statement and all officers should be treated with respect.

An Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator said on Friday that officers who created hurdles in the work meant for people’s welfare should be beaten up, days after the alleged assault on Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash by some legislators of the party.

Naresh Balyan was unrepentant about his comments about the Delhi chief secretary assault row. (Parveen Kumar/HT File Photo)

AAP’s Uttam Nagar MLA Naresh Balyan’s comments add to the tensions between the Delhi government and bureaucracy after the alleged assault on Prakash.

“Any work that could be done in three days...(the) file is not cleared in three days and they take three to six months for that. Why? Because that would give them commission and this was stopped by the Delhi chief minister. Now they do not move files. Now what has happened with the chief secretary, their (the officers’) allegations (that Prakash was beaten up). I say, employees like that should be beaten up. If a person has stopped a work that is for the people, he should face such an action,” Balyan said at an event.

The joint forum of the Delhi governments’ officers condemned the MLA’s statement. “However, the joint forum has resolved to continue work only through formal written communication with the political executive of the Delhi government,” it said.

Balyan’s comments did not go down well with the Arvind Kejriwal-led party either. “Strongly condemn statement made by @MLANareshBalyan; all govt officers need to be treated respectfully. @AamAadmiParty govt believes in working in collaboration with them for Delhi’s development (sic),” party leader Atishi Marlena wrote on Twitter.

Balyan, however, was unrepentant about his comments. “If an officer intentionally delays any work for the people, he should get the same treatment,” he said.