‘CS, officers working under influence of ration mafia'

Demanding an enquiry against Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday alleged that the Chief Secretary and other senior officers are working under the influence of the ration mafia in national Capital.

Addressing the media at Delhi Secretariat, Sisodia made the allegation after a Cabinet meeting on doorstep delivery of ration was cancelled after the head of the Food and Supplies Department went on leave for a week. Under the scheme, packets of ration are to be delivered at the houses of beneficiaries and the Government was set to roll out the scheme in January.

Sisodia said instructions were given to the Chief Secretary not to give leave to senior officers without consulting the Ministers concerned, but he did not inform the Minister.

“This creates a doubt that everyone is working together and under the influence of the ration ‘wala’ (mafia). There should be an enquiry into this,” Sisodia said. Last week, bureaucrats had decided to boycott all meetings with Ministers after an alleged attack on the Chief Secretary by two AAP MLAs in the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on February 19 night. Attacking Lt Governor Anil Baijal on the issue, Sisodia said, “The L-G should answer why he is not taking action against the officers.”

The Deputy Chief Minister said Thursday's Cabinet meeting was the third one related to doorstep delivery of ration.

The Chief Minister has asked the Chief Secretary to submit the proposal at the Cabinet meeting fixed for Tuesday, he added.

Sisodia said senior officials were against the implementation of the doorstep delivery of ration, which would put an end to the ration mafia.