AAP’s Delhi chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj (File Photo)

NEW DELHI: Even though there were signs a reconciliation between AAP government and officers on Monday, food commissioner Mohanjeet Singh skipped a meeting on ration called by minister Imran Hussain . At a separate meeting called by Hussain on environment, all officers who were invited were in attendance. Both meetings were held in Hussain’s chamber at the secretariat.

Singh’s absence prompted AAP to question whether it was due to the “fear of personal safety”. An AAP leader asked: “The environment secretary found it safe to attend the meeting called by the minister, but the food commissioner found it unsafe?” At a press conference on Sunday, IAS officers had said that they were avoiding those meetings that they considered “unsafe”.

Hussain then rescheduled the meeting on ration for Tuesday. On agenda is a review of the distribution of ration to eligible beneficiaries in June and availability at fairprice shops.

“The commissioner was absent at the meeting without intimation,” AAP’s Delhi chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said, adding that the minister had desired the presence of all officials concerned for the Tuesday meeting. The distribution of ration has been a subject of the recent tussle between AAP government and LG, with the government keen on bringing in the doorstep delivery scheme to end the alleged corruption and pilferage. “It proves boycotting the meetings of ministers has nothing to do with safety and security. It’s just dirty politics,” Bharadwaj said.

Singh didn’t respond to calls and messages by TOI.

Meanwhile, support continued to pour in for AAP with Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav and CPI’s D Raja visiting LNJP hospital to meet deputy CM Manish Sisodia and health minister Satyendar Jain. “The Centre has kept mum on the issue. If needed, we will also sit on dharna,” Yadav said. CM Arvind Kejriwal thanked the two for “raising their voice against the assault on democracy in Delhi by PM Narendra Modi”.

Even though both AAP government and IAS officers have agreed for talks, AAP is likely to go ahead with its signature campaign to garner support if there is no breakthrough. “We will start a signature campaign on Tuesday. We will go door-to-door to get the signature of people. Our target is to get at least 10 lakh signatures,” RS MP Sanjay Singh said.

