The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday came out in support of the Delhi government, which has again invited Lieutenant Governor (LG) Najeeb Jung’s wrath over the appointment of six Bihar police officers in the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB). The party leaders claimed that the ACB did not come under the Lieutenant Governor’s jurisdiction. Claiming to wage a tough war to weed out corruption from Delhi, party leaders alleged that those engaged in such malpractices were <g data-gr-id="55">hell bent</g> on weakening the ACB, but the AAP government is committed to <g data-gr-id="64">strengthen</g> the anti-graft body.
“We have also short-listed honest officers from Uttar Pradesh. We invite honest officers from across the country to join the ACB and make Delhi corruption-free. We will go to each and every corner of the country to <g data-gr-id="54">induct</g> honest officers in the ACB. The Delhi government is working honestly, so we do not fear honest officers,” said Ashutosh, spokesperson of AAP, in a press conference.
He also insisted that ACB does not come under LG and the matter of jurisdiction between Chief Minister and LG is pending with Delhi High Court. Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh alleged that the Centre is posing hurdles in the path of ACB by not providing sufficient officers. “The Centre is sitting on the demand of Sanjeev Chaturvedi for ACB since last three months. We are not demanding tainted officers but <g data-gr-id="61">honest</g> one,” said Sanjay Singh.
Earlier in the day, Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said: “The government is competent to appoint any officer from anywhere in the ACB.” But he did not comment on why Jung was not taken into <g data-gr-id="60">loop</g>. However, Sisodia met Jung in the <g data-gr-id="58">afternoon,</g> but did not reveal details of the meeting.
Jung, in a press statement on Tuesday, asserted his authority on the ACB as it was a police station. “The ACB being a police station, functions under the authority, control and supervision of the LG. It was also clarified by the Minister of Home Affairs in a notification on May <g data-gr-id="56">21,”stated</g> a press release from the LG’s Secretariat.
“The LG’s office has not received a proposal for the deputation of such personnel from outside the Delhi police so far,” the statement further read.