News

Centre backs Delhi Lt.Governor: Kejriwal says BJP 'nervous'

by IBNS 21 May 2015, 10:28 pm

New Delhi, May 22 (IBNS) As the centre stood behind Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb giving him the primacy in postings and transfers of officers, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party is nervous about the anti-graft initiatives that have been taken by the the Aam Aadmi Party government.

"BJP first lost Delhi elections. Today's notification shows BJP's nervousness about our anti-corruption efforts. BJP again lost today," Kejriwal tweeted.

The AAP has been calling the notification by the Home Ministry as unconstitutional. "This is an insult of people's mandate. This is an indication of the dictatorial attitude of the PM Modi and his Cabinet. It is unconstitutional, undemocratic," AAP leader Ashutosh said.

Amid the escalating turf war between Jung and the CM the Centre in a gazette notification has specified the role and powers of the Lt Governor. 

The Home Ministry has said that the L-G has jurisdiction over matters of services, public order, police and land. The Union Home Ministry has made it clear that it is not mandatory for the L-G to consult Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on matters like appointment of bureaucrats. The notification also states that the L-G may consult the Chief Minister whenever he thinks necessary in issues of services using his own "discretion".

The Lieutenant Governor has all along claimed that as the representative of the union government, he is the authority for the Delhi police, issues related toland and the postings of key government officers.

The notification comes after a detailed discussion on Thursday between Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

"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, accordingly to the notification. 

It says  the LG shall in respect of matter connected with public order, police, land and services exercise the powers and discharge the functions of the central government to the extent delegated to him from time to time by President provided that the LG may in his discretion obtain view of the Chief Minister of Delhi in regard to the matter of "services" wherein he deems it appropriate.

It also said that the Anti-Corruption Branch police station shall not take cognisance of offences against officials, employees and functionaries of these central government services. This will supersede a 1998 notification.

The gazette notification said the Union Territory cadre consisting of IAS, IPS service personnel is common to Union Territories of Delhi, Chandigarh, Andaman and Nicobar islands, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Puducherry and states of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Mizoram which is administered by central government through the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Kejriwal had written  to PM Modi on Wednesday, alleging that his party, the BJP, is trying to govern Delhi through the Lieutenant Governor.

The power struggle between Delhi's two top men began soon after Jung decided to promote IAS officer Shakuntala Gamlin as acting Chief Secretary of Delhi, without consulting the Chief Minister.

 Kejriwal retaliated by removing the officer who signed off on the Lieutenant Governor's order while principal Secretary Anindo Majumdar  was locked out of his office on Monday. 

Both Arvind Kejriwal and the Lieutenant Governor met President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday and accused each other of violating the Constitution.