Centre-Arvind Kejriwal row: AAP attacks centre for giving L-G Najeeb Jung upper hand to appoint bureaucrats

NEW DELHI: Hours after Union Home Ministry issued a notification on Friday morning, clearly giving an upper hand to the Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung for appointing key bureaucrats in Delhi government, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal termed it as a "betrayal" of the people of Delhi by the BJP-led central government on the latter’s first anniversary in power.
"This notification is a betrayal of the people of Delhi. These people have stabbed Delhi’s citizens on the back," Kejriwal said while addressing his first press conference after becoming chief minister. Claiming that it was the ‘transfer-postings’ industry whose concerns had influenced and prevailed over both Rajnath Singh and the Prime Minister’s Office, he said both of them had obliged because "traditional contractors of BJP and Congress" went out of business after AAP came to power. By installing favoured bureaucrats, the Centre only wished to help the contractors.

"Ever since the formation of Delhi government, corruption has reduced substantially in the city. This is perhaps the most honest government in history that’s taking strong action against the corrupt. So far, 36 officers have been arrested and 152 suspended. Wherever you go in Delhi, there is a fear in the minds of the corrupt. This fear has given birth to this notification," he said.

Citing Article 239AA of the constitution, home ministry’s notification said matters related to entries 1, 2, 18 on the state list — which are public order, police, land and services — are "outside the purview of the legislative assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi".

Deriving from this understanding, the notification adds, "Consequently, the Government of NCT of Delhi will have no executive power" on these aspects of governance since "power in relation to the subjects vests exclusively in the President or his delegate i.e., the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi".

Kejriwal tore into this aspect, claiming it was clear that this is not a ‘Kejriwal v/s Jung’ battle. "LG Jung is the face, but the order comes from above. The PMO acts like the Queen of England in London, with the Lieutenant Governor as Viceroy," he said with a flourish. The notification was sent for printing at the government press factory Mayapuri in west Delhi at 11.15 pm, according to people familiar with the matter.

Attorney General Mukul RohtagiRohtagi’s opinion was also taken after which the modification regarding anti-corruption branch (ACB) was done, said officials. The home minister did not give his approval on the file for the issue of notification to avoid political mudslinging.

However, he was kept abreast about the developments and the final draft gazette which was sent for publication. North Block was reportedly buzzing with activity till late night, and after several corrections in the draft, it was decided to hold back the release of the notification in media for Thursday. On Friday early morning, the notification was mailed to the media houses announcing the amendments.

Partly aware of these behind-thescenes activities, Kejriwal harked back at AAP’s unprecedented victory, alleging that BJP was concerned that the Delhi government had been performing well and the former was shocked ever since AAP got 67 seats and thus, wishes to "run Delhi with three MLAs". The CM claimed that the notification had errors and may have to be reissued. "Transfer-posting does not come under services.

Service conditions or things like PF come under services, according to some of the initial feedback I have received from constitutional expert. We will get more opinion from experts on this," he said.