Centre wants to take country towards dictatorship: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday went all out against the Central government and Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung but tried to a established a cordial note with the bureaucracy by appreciating their hard work and dedication. 

Kejriwal also exhorted all <g data-gr-id="26">non</g>-BJP states to come together to fight against the unconstitutional and dictatorial activities of the Centre. 

“The LG is wrong to say that we held the file for the appointment of acting Chief Secretary in Delhi for 40 hours. On the contrary, we were in touch for 24 hours and conveyed our view but he appointed Shakuntala Gamblin,” said Kejriwal. 

“The Lieutenant Governor is regularly encroaching upon the rights of the Delhi government since we have assumed office. He rejected my order for a magisterial inquiry into a rape case, issued show cause notices to the acting Chief Secretary appointed by us after retirement of Delhi’s former Chief Secretary D M Sapolia and also to the secretary of Services Department who had issued the order,” added the Chief Minister. Millennium Post on May 19 had published a report titled “LG-CM feud: Sahai show-cause had sowed seeds of mistrust,” highlighting the fact that the present feud between LG and CM were not spontaneous but had its roots in the previous decisions of the LG which the Chief Minster considered “illegal” and “unconstitutional”. 

“The Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is conducting experiments ‘to encroach upon the rights of states’ in Delhi and if successful they will be implemented in other <g data-gr-id="37">non</g>-BJP states. I will write letters to all the <g data-gr-id="39">non</g>-BJP states to unite against the unconstitutional orders of the Central government to save the federal structure,” said Kejriwal. “If Kiran Bedi was the Chief Minister of Delhi, the LG would not dare to issue such orders. If he had issued any of the orders, he would have been shown the door,” emphasised Kejriwal, arguing that the Centre is behind such orders. He alleged that the Central government is determined to show his government in poor light and issued the notification for three purposes — appoint officers of their choice so that they don’t follow Delhi government, encourage transfer-posting industry which we have stopped and ensure contracts to their leaders and patrons through those officers. 

He argued that curtailing the powers of <g data-gr-id="40">Anti Corruption</g> Branch will be a ‘license’ to the corrupt officers to take bribe. Kejriwal also alleged that Modi government is protecting the corrupt officers by not giving permission to CBI to investigate against several IAS officers. He assured the officers of full support and asked them to perform their duties without fear. “The House will give your salaries, we are with you, so don’t need to fear the Central government,” he added. 

He added that people come to the Delhi government for water, power, and basic <g data-gr-id="28">facilities</g> not to the LG or the Home Minister.