Former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha joins thousands of protesting AAP leaders, workers in Delhi

The Delhi government protest against the Lt Governor over IAS officers' "strike" intensified on Wednesday as thousands of AAP leaders and workers, joined by former Union finance minister Yashwant Sinha, on Wednesday marched to the L-G's office where Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his ministers have been staging a sit-in protest since Monday evening.

Expressing solidarity to the AAP, Sinha, who resigned from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recently, addressed the protesting members outside the chief minister's Civil Lines residence from where the protest march proceeded to the L-G's office.

Sinha said the entire country was concerned about the situation in Delhi. If former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee were there, he would have directed the home minister to find a solution to the crisis, but the present dispensation was "sleeping", he said.

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"It would be better for the country if a solution to the crisis in Delhi is found at the earliest," Sinha said.

The AAP government's demands to the L-G include a direction to IAS officers to end their "strike", action against those who have struck work for "four months". It has also asked the L-G to approve the proposal for doorstep delivery of rations.

During the protest march, party leaders and workers raised slogans against the lieutenant governor --- "LG sahab, Delhi Chodo (LG, quit Delhi)".
         
Rajya Sabha MP and senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh said that if the IAS officers give assurance in writing to end their strike and resume work, the AAP will appeal the chief minister and his colleagues to end their sit-in at the L-G office.

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Singh said that the party would take out a candlelight march tomorrow, adding that if the matter was not sorted by Sunday, its leaders and workers would stage a dharna at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). He warned that the AAP will resort to a massive agitation if no solution is found to the existing situation.
         
The IAS officers' association has maintained that no officer is on strike and no work of the Delhi government has been affected.

(With inputs from agencies)