Beleaguered Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday finally broke his silence over the alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash at his residence on the intervening night of 19-20 February, saying it was a “political conspiracy” to destabilise the government.

Talking with a gathering of government employees who had come to meet him at his residence, Kejriwal said whatever happened in the past ten days, was a part of a larger conspiracy that is being continuously hatched since the inception of the Anna movement (anti-corruption) to discredit them.

“The way facts have been manipulated and a propaganda has taken place in the last few weeks is a part of the same conspiracy to somehow pull our government down.

Soon, after the incident, the government employees were provoked to protest against the government and an old canard that Delhi will come under President’s rule was instigated,” he said.

Kejriwal said he was “hurt” to see government employees turning against him without knowing the true facts.

“At least you (employees) should have came to me and ask what exactly happened that night. Now it is my request that in future before anyone tells you anything, consult with me also to know both sides of the story,” he said.

On 20 February, Anshu Prakash had alleged that he was beaten up by two AAP MLAs, Amanatullah Khan and Prakash Jarwal, at the Chief Minister’s residence where he had been called for a meeting that night.

Following this, Delhi government employees joint forum ~ which comprises IAS, DANICS and DASS ~ had declared to boycott meetings with the Chief Minister, his ministers or MLAs and will communicate only in writing, till Kejriwal apologises for the alleged assault on the CS and effective action is taken against the people involved in the incident.

Denying that the Chief Secretary was beaten, Kejriwal said he has never taken the path of violence to make his point.

“I may be stubborn but not violent. Only cowards take the path of violence. I am not a coward,” he said, adding that he is not a fool to call the chief secretary to his home and then get him beaten by his legislators.

Kejriwal said the government employees have been the backbone of the developmental work that the AAP government has carried out in its three years of governance.

“If today we (AAP) are singing around the world ‘teen saal mai huwa kamal, it is not due to Kejriwal, but it is because of you (employees).Three, four ministers can’t do anything by themselves unless they have your support,” Kejriwal said to a round of applause from the gathering.

Meanwhile, Dayanand Singh who was leading the group of government employees said they wanted to have face-to-face conversations with the Chief Minister to clear the misunderstanding between the employees and the ministers.

Singh, who claims to be the chairman of joint council of all employees association and Delhi state contractual association, said they have also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister to formalise a proper protocol during their meetings with ministers.

When asked whether they would attend the meetings with ministers henceforth, Singh said their association is not directly involved in dealing with ministers.

“Our associations largely comprise contractual workers. We were part of the Delhi government employees’ joint forum. But we don’t think that their demand to ask CM to apologise is valid,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Kejriwal met Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and urged him to support the proposal of Delhi government to deliver free ration in packets at the houses of beneficiaries in the Capital.

“Met Hon’ble LG. Informed him that Cabinet cleared doorstep delivery of ration yest. It is a revolutionary idea. Requested his support. Urged him to call me if he has any clarifications,” Kejriwal tweeted.