Officials ignoring MLAs' calls: Speaker to chief secy

Gupta urges top bureaucrat to 'sensitise' officers to pay heed to elected leaders; AAP claims BJP getting taste of own medicine

- Alok KN Mishra

Assembly speaker and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vijender Gupta on Thursday wrote to the Delhi chief secretary, complaining that government officers were ignoring calls and messages from MLAs, calling the issue "serious". He urged chief secretary Dharmendra to "sensitise" bureaucrats about the protocols they must follow when dealing with elected representatives.

The letter sparked a fresh political row, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) using it to accuse the BJP of hypocrisy, pointing out that for a decade, AAP ministers faced similar issues but got no support from the BJP over the issue.

To be sure, in the AAP's case the tussle was often between ministers and bureaucrats, and not just MLAs who are not a part of the state executive.

Gupta's letter, dated March 19, a copy of which has been seen by HT, stated: "A few instances have been brought to my notice where the communications of the Hon'ble Members in the form of letters, phone calls, or messages have not even been acknowledged by the concerned officer.