CS Anshu Prakash row: Ex-bureaucrat resigns from Delhi government

NEW DELHI: Former bureaucrat Dhir Jhingran has resigned from the Delhi government's State Advisory Council For Education to express solidarity with Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash, who was allegedly assaulted by AAP MLAs at the chief minister's residence.

In his resignation to the Secretary (education), Jhingran said that he has been "deeply shocked and saddened" by alleged assault on Prakash, who is also his batchmate in the IAS, at the chief minister's residence.

"As a mark of protest and in solidarity with Anshu Prakash, and also not wanting to associate further with a government that treats senior officers in this manner, I have resigned from membership of the State Advisory Council of Education," Jhingran said in the letter.

Reacting to Jhingran's resignation, Atishi Marlena, Advisor to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, said, "It is unfortunate that he was taken in by a false version of events".

In protest against the alleged assault on Prakash by AAP MLAs earlier this week, officers' associations have boycotted meetings with AAP ministers and said they would only maintain written communication with them.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues met Lt Governor Anil Baijal over the issue.

After the meeting, Kejriwal said the L-G has assured them that all steps will be taken to ensure that officers start functioning normally.