: The Delhi government will not be run from jail, Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena said on Wednesday in the backdrop of statements by AAP leaders that Arvind Kejriwal will continue as chief minister even if he is behind bars.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case and subsequently remanded in the agency’s custody till March 28 by a court here.
AAP leaders on several occasions ruled out Kejriwal’s resignation, insisting that he will run his government from inside the jail.
Replying to a query at the Times Now Summit, the Delhi L-G said, “I can assure the people of Delhi that the government will not be run from jail.”
Kejriwal issued his second work order from ED’s custody on Tuesday instructing Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj to ensure that medicines and tests are available to people at all government hospitals and Mohalla Clinics.
Earlier on Sunday, the Aam Aadmi Party supremo gave instructions to Water minister Atishi to solve water and sewer-related problems in some areas of the city.
In an apparent attack on the AAP dispensation, Saxena said, “As kids, we all have heard the proverb ‘lohe ke chane chabana’ (to face great difficulty). After coming to Delhi I actually realised the meaning of this proverb.
“In this city to get any work done it feels like ‘lohe ke chane chabana’. Whatever you try to do, there are some forces that put their entire strength into stopping that work. And if you are able to successfully complete that work, then these forces try to take credit.”
If President’s Rule imposed in Delhi, it would be clear case of political vendetta: Atishi
Delhi Cabinet minister Atishi on Wednesday said if President’s Rule is imposed in the national Capital in the aftermath of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest, it would be a clear case of “political vendetta”.
Responding to Saxena’s statement, Atishi, in an interview with news agency, cited The Representation of the People Act that disqualifies a lawmaker if he/she is convicted.
“What is the constitutional provision he is drawing on? The law of the country is very clear. You have the GNCTD Act which is very clear that you cannot be the chief minister if you do not enjoy the majority of the House. These conditions do not apply. So, under what conditions will President’s Rule be imposed?” she said.