IAS officers' 'strike' row: Left joins AAP's protest march to PM residence

New Delhi: With the stand-off  between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government and Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal over the issues of ''strike'' of IAS officers and approval of the doorstep delivery of ration continuing for the seventh day on Sunday, the party workers held a protest march to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence. However, their march was stopped by the police before it could reach the PM residence. 

A large number of AAP volunteers and workers gathered at Mandi House in support of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who, along with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and two ministers in the AAP Government -- Gopal Rai and Satyendar Jain -- continued their sit-in protest for the seventh day on Sunday over their demand to end the IAS Officers' ''strike'' and approval of the doorstep delivery of ration. 

The AAP leaders and supporters started their march from Mandi House towards the Prime Minister's residence on Sunday at 1600 hrs.Their march to the PM residence was stopped at Sansad Marg.''Left parties joined ''SaveDemocracyMarch'' at Delhi's Mandi House to demand full Statehood for Delhi and protest against the way the Modi Government is using the LG Office to undermine the democratically elected Aam Aadmi Party Government,'' the CPI-M tweeted. 

CPI-M leader SitaramYechury joined and addressed the march. He also lent support to the AAP's protest march.In a series of tweets, the CPI- M leader said, ''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.''

''Using office of Governors and LGs, BJP seeks to destabilise non-BJP democratically elected state govts. This is happening with democratically elected govts in Delhi & Puducherry. Governor's office was used to try & hijack people's mandate in Karnataka, but this was thwarted,'' the CPI-M leader said.

''Governor's office was used to install BJP governments even after they have lost elections, like in Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya. The Governor's office has been misused in Bihar to allow the BJP to enter the govt via the backdoor after losing assembly elections comprehensively,'' he said.

''Such efforts are destroying the already fragile centre-state relations which is the backbone of the federal essence of the Indian Constitution. This must not be permitted,'' the CPI-M leader said.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police official said AAP donot have permission for the protest march. They have been stopped at Parliament street. They are being told that they can't go any further. Specially trained personnel are deployed here. ''We're sure they (protesters) will listen to us,'' the police official said.

Delhi police further said that it has not received permission for the march and imposed prohibitory orders in the residential areas."The New Delhi district has not received any permission of an AAP protest. Protest marches are banned in residential areas," DCP New Delhi Madhur Verma said.''The call given by @AamAadmiParty to march towards PM residence or office is without any permission. No permission has been applied for. As such areas of New Delhi district are under prohibitory orders,'' the Delhi Police tweeted.

Hours before AAP's march to the Prime Minister's residence, five metro stations--Lok Kalyan Marg station, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan and Janpath stations were closed on Sunday afternoon on advise of Delhi Police.

Delhi Metro first closed entry and exit at Lok Kalyan Marg station from 1200 hrs and other four

stations--Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan and Janpath stations

were shut from 1400 hrs.

Previously, the party workers held a protest march to the LG House on Wednesday. However, their march was stopped by the police before it could reach the LG House.The sit in protest by Mr Sisodia and Mr Jain, who are sitting on an indefinite hunger strike on this issue, entered day five and six respectively on Sunday.

The Delhi Chief Minister and the three ministers are staging the sit-in protest at Raj Niwas since Monday evening and have said that they will camp in the waiting room in the LG House till their demands are met.

The AAP ministers on Monday demanded the Delhi Lieutenant Governor to direct the IAS officers, who are on strike in Delhi for past four months, to return to work.They have  also demanded that the LG punish those officers who struck work for past four months.

The Chief Minister and the AAP ministers also demanded that the LG approve Delhi government's doorstep delivery of ration scheme.However, in a statement on Monday, the LG denied that the IAS officers are on strike.The LG House also said the file pertaining to the delivery of rations is pending with the Food and Civil Supplies Minister, and not with the LG.(UNI)