Metro fare hike: Chief Secy defies CM, refuses to intervene

NEW DELHI: The Chief Secretary on Friday refused to abide by the directions of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to order an inquiry in the Metro fare hike.

The Chief Minister on Wednesday had directed Chief Secretary M M Kutty to issue orders for the inquiry.

"The denial of the Chief Secretary to order the inquiry even despite being asked by the Chief Minister for the same is a first of its kind in the democratic history of the country. This makes it clear that the Chief Secretary has the backing of the BJP-led Centre and is sabotaging the Delhi government's efforts to send relief to the people of Delhi by getting the fare hike inquired," said a statement issued by the Chief Minister's office.

"The Chief Secretary in the afternoon of Friday first refused to order the inquiry on file. Later, when the Chief Minister summoned the Chief Secretary in the evening at his residence, the CS refused for the inquiry on the Chief Minister's face. The refusal once again makes it clear that he has the backing of the BJP and Central government," the statement further said.

The Delhi government now is of the view that such bureaucrats must have sabotaged the elected government's stand on the Metro fare hike during the board meeting which decided on the hike.

The Metro fare hike was a financial blow to the people of Delhi and has also brought down the ridership of Delhi Metro.

In his note to Kutty, Kejriwal had written, "The steep hike in Metro fares has caused considerable distress to the people of Delhi. The hike could not have come at a worse time."

"The economy is in recession, medium and small scale businesses are facing losses and unemployment is soaring high," the chief minister, who is also the chairman of the DDC, had written.

The Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government has, on several occasions, opposed the fare hike.