Will Attend Budget Meeting If CM Ensures There Is No Physical Or Verbal Assault, Says Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash

As the rift widens between Delhi's top bureacrat and the government, Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash on Tuesday, in a letter to the Chief Minister, said that he will attend the meeting of council of ministers on Budget Session only on assurance "that CM will ensure there is no physical attack and verbal assault on the officers". He also sought to maintain the dignity of all the officers attending the meet.

The meeting is scheduled for today. It is aimed at discussing "important matters" in regards with the Budget Session.

In the brief note, Prakash said that the officers working with the Delhi government " do not want important matters to suffer" and hence he will participate in the meeting. "This is based on assumption that the CM will ensure that there is no physical attack or verbal assault on the officers. It is also hoped that in the said meeting, proper decorum will be maintained and dignity of the officers will be protected."

This letter comes days after Prakash had alleged manhandling by Aam Aadmi Party MLAs at CM Arvind Kejriwal's residence. A medical examination report also confirmed signs of bruises on and around his face.

The chief minister's office, however, has dismissed the accusation of chief secretary Anshu Prakash being assaulted on Monday night as "bizarre and baseless".

"The Delhi government employees are working with full vigour and want that normal functioning of the Government should not suffer," Prakash said in his letter.