Jung-Kejriwal face-off: Shakuntala Gamlin meets Union Home Secretary LC Goyal

NEW DELHI: Acting Delhi Chief Secretary Shakuntala Gamlin, whose appointment has fuelled a face-off between the Arvind Kejriwal government and Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, today met Union Home Secretary LC Goyal.

The senior bureaucrat, who has been accused by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of trying to favour power companies, had a 30-minute meeting with Goyal during which Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi and Joint Secretary (Union Territory) in the Home Ministry, Rakesh Singh, too, were present.

Sources said the meeting was held to discuss "routine" administrative matters.

Despite repeated queries, Gamlin kept mum about the meeting as well as the controversy surrounding her appointment as the acting Delhi Chief Secretary.

Kejriwal had yesterday accused Gamlin of trying to favour two Reliance Infra-owned discoms through a Rs 11,000-crore loan. He had also alleged that the Narendra Modi government wants the AAP dispensation to "fail".

The confrontation over Gamlin's appointment as acting Chief Secretary turned into a full-blown war between the ruling AAP and Lieutenant Governor last week with Kejriwal alleging that Jung was trying to take over the administration.

Despite Kejriwal's strong opposition, Jung had appointed Gamlin to the post on Friday. On Saturday, the Chief Minister had asked her not to take charge of the post, but she ignored his directive and followed the LG's order.

Asked whether Delhi Police has any issue with the Delhi government, Bassi said there was no tiff as they "work under the legal framework".