Write Comment     |     E-Mail To a Friend     |     Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Print

Hitting out at the Centre after it issued a notification specifying the role and powers of Delhi Lt Governor, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said it showed BJP’s nervousness about the anti-corruption efforts of his government.

“BJP first lost Del elections. Today’s notification shows BJP’s nervousness abt our anti-corruption efforts. BJP again lost today(sic)” Mr. Kejriwal said in his tweet.

Amid the escalating LG-CM feud, the Centre on Friday backed Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung making it clear that it was not mandatory for him to consult Mr. Kejriwal on matters like appointment of bureaucrats.

In a gazette notification issued on Friday, the Union Home Ministry said that the LG will have jurisdiction over matters connected with services, public order, police and land and he may consult with the Chief Minister whenever he thinks necessary in issues of services using his own “discretion”.

Reacting to MHA’s notification, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that it has become clear through this notification that the “Delhi’s transfer-posting industry” is afraid of AAP government.

“By this notification, it is clear that how the transfer industry of Delhi is afraid of us,” Mr. Sisodia said in his series of tweets.

“Through this (notification), it is being made efforts to save transfer-posting industry,” he said.

The MHA’s notification said public order, police, land and services fall outside purview of legislative assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi and consequently the Government of NCT of Delhi will have no executive power” on such matters.

Mr. Sisodia alleged that the development showed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh were “kneeling down” before corruption and “transfer-posting industry.”

In a series of tweets, he said “In Delhi appointment of Commissioner of Police (CP), Chief Secretary (CS), Home Secretary and Land Secretary is in the hands of LG but in consultation with the CM.”

“In all these four cases, the LG has no power to appoint without consultation with CM,” he said.

“As per the Constitution, all other transfer-posting rights are with the Delhi Government. It’s Delhi Government’s responsibility to carry out transfer and posting of officers and get them work,” Mr. Sisodia said.

Raising questions on the notification, he said, “If MHA will frame such rule to promote some corrupt babus at the cost of the Constitution, it will have to be seen whether the nexus of politicians and corrupt babus or the Constitution.”

The appointment of senior bureaucrat Shakuntala Gamlin as acting Chief Secretary by LG last week had triggered a full-blown war between the ruling AAP and the Lt Governor, with Mr. Kejriwal questioning the LG’s authority and accusing him of trying to take over the administration.

Hitting out at the Centre after it issued a notification specifying the role and powers of Delhi Lt Governor, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said it showed BJP’s nervousness about the anti-corruption efforts of his government.