AMN
CM Kejriwal too meet President amid growing rift with LG
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday met President Pranab Mukherjee amidst the controversy over appointment of acting Chief Secretary Shakuntala Gamlin by Lieutenant Governor without consulting the government. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia also accompanied Mr Kejriwal. Talking to media after the meeting Mr Sisodia said that Mr Kejriwal apprised the President that the Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung is acting as if Delhi is under President’s rule.
Mr Sisodia alleged that the LG is directly issuing directions to the bureaucrats and also threatening them in case of non-compliance. He said, however, the AAP government has accepted the LG’s decision to appoint Ms Gamlin as acting Chief Secretary though it was done without consulting the elected government. He said, the Chief Minister has requested the President to ask the LG not to interfere in the administrative matters which are in the domain of Delhi government.
Meanwhile Congress has asked the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi and the BJP to stop casting aspersions on each other on the issue of appointment of acting Chief Secretary Shakuntala Gamlin. Party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is known for his evasive tactics, but now he should concentrate on the development of the city. He also alleged that BJP is working in a vindictive manner and trying to paralyse the city administration.
Earlier, another Congress leader Kapil Sibal said what can be expected of Mr Kejriwal who did not even hesitate to dump his close aides like Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan.
Reacting to the ongoing controversy, BJP leader Harsh Vardhan said, stand of the AAP government over the appointment of Gamlin, is unconstitutional. He accused Mr Kejriwal of not following the democratic norms pursued by former Chief Ministers of Delhi.