AAP government moves resolution against Centre's notification giving absolute powers to the L-G

NEW DELHI: The AAP government today moved a resolution at a special session of the Delhi Assembly against the Centre's notification giving absolute powers to the Lt Governor on transfer and postings of senior bureaucrats and restricting the Anti-Corruption Bureau from probing central government employees.

Moving the resolution, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said issuance of the notification was an "insult" to the "biggest mandate" the people of Delhi had given in the assembly polls.

Alleging that the notification was in violation of the Constitution, he said government has presented the resolution before the House as attempts are being made to "curb rights" of a democratically-elected government.

"Tomorrow the central government can say that you don't have control over the sources of water so you can't supply water to the city," Sisodia said, adding "The issuance of the notification is an insult to the biggest mandate of Delhi's people."

In the notification, the Centre gave absolute powers to the LG in appointment of bureaucrats while also clarifying that he need not "consult" the chief minister on subjects like police and public order.

The ACB of the Delhi government has also been barred from registering any case against officers and political functionaries of the central government.

However, the Delhi High Court yesterday ruled that the ACB has authority to probe central government officials, including Delhi Police personnel.

"Delhi was plagued by corruption. People have given us a massive mandate to run the government. This government has taken corruption head on and achieved unprecedented success. The Centre is trying to thwart Delhi government's attempts. The ACB has done unprecedented work in the last 100 days despite several odds," Sisodia said.
The Deputy chief minister said the AAP government will not keep mum if its rights were taken away by the Centre.

"I want the Assembly to debate the notification that is most unconstitutional and decide whether it will remain quiet. This Assembly has not been made by the 70 persons sitting here. It is made of lakhs of voters of Delhi.

"We are not here to sit and spend government money and later say certain things are not in our jurisdiction. If the rights conferred to the Delhi Assembly by the Constitution of India are taken away then it becomes incumbent upon us to strongly protest across party lines," he said.

After the notification was issued last week, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had launched a frontal attack on the Centre, accusing it of "back-stabbing" the people of the city by "siding" with the Lt Governor to run Delhi through "backdoor" and protect the corrupt.

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 LG Najeeb Jung, with Kejriwal questioning the LG's authority and accusing him of trying to take over the administration.