NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has slammed Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal over the deteriorating law and order condition in the Capital and urged him to take efforts for the development of Delhi police.
The CM's Twitter tirade on Saturday came after the alleged attack by police on journalists covering the 'pad yatra' by students and teachers of Jawaharlal Nehru University on Friday.
"Hon'ble LG shud spend more time improving policing in Del rather than obstructing every project of Del govt. Policing and law and order, which are his primary duties, are in complete mess in Del," Kejriwal said on his Twitter handle.
Last week, the Delhi government's flagship doorstep delivery of ration scheme and its decision to stall the use of electronic point of sale (ePoS) machines in fair price shops become another flashpoint between it and the LG.
Baijal, on Wednesday, asked the government to refer the proposal to the Centre, even as the CM hit back saying that no such reference was required according to law.
Kejriwal, on Wednesday, had said that such an important measure was rejected by Baijal over "petty politics".
"V sad that Hon'ble LG has rejected doorstep delivery of ration scheme. I had repeatedly requested him to give me an audience before taking a decision but he did not. Feeling really really sad that such imp proposals are becoming victims of petty politics," he had said on Twitter.
However, the LG's office, in a statement, had said that the LG did not reject the proposal, instead advised the government to refer it to the Centre for full details – including all implementation issues – before a final decision is taken.
The LG 'rejection' of the scheme comes despite him lauding the project as a part of "good governance" during his speech at the commencement of the Delhi Assembly Budget session last week.
On March 6, the Delhi Cabinet had passed the bill to ensure doorstep delivery of monthly ration to beneficiaries on a timely basis. Like all other proposals, this too needed the LG's sanction for.
The LG also asked the Kejriwal government to reconsider stalling the e-PoS system at fair price shops.
"Use of e-PoS devices facilitates portability i.e. the beneficiaries can choose to lift ration from any FPS of his/ her choice. This promotes competition and empowers the beneficiaries/consumers. LG advises that the decision to suspend the operation of e-PoS devices is reconsidered," a statement from the LG house said.