Omar, D Raja raise voices in support of Kejriwal

Omar Abdullah, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir along with D Raja, the National Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) have collectively opposed the Central government’s move, which provides the Lt Governor of Delhi, the power to appoint and dismiss bureaucrats. 

“Why have an election, where you elect the Chief Minister and then tie his/her hands and then take decisions on their behalf? Nobody has elected the L-G of Delhi,” Omar Abdullah told media persons.

The former J&K CM said that although he has no personal rapport with Kejriwal and is yet to meet him, his support is based purely “on principle”. “People of Delhi have elected Kejriwal whether you like it or not. You have to give that person freedom and flexibility to choose his team and to succeed or fail. There should not be any power tussle of sorts,” said Abdullah.

“What the L-G did (on <g data-gr-id="33">appointment</g> of officials of Delhi government) cannot be approved. Now the Centre has issued this notification, which is a provocative step,” said D Raja, the National Secretary of Communist Party of India.

He said that the powers of the L-G of Delhi and Puducherry are governed by Articles 239 (A) and 239 (AA) and cannot be used unless in case of an emergency.

“There was no emergency in Delhi,” he said.

Observing that the matter was taken up to the President, Raja said that now the people are asking whether or not the President has approved these steps by Delhi L-G Najeeb Jung and the Centre.

“The Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) government is dragging the President into a controversy. BJP should not use L-G’s office to undermine the elected government, which reflects the aspirations of the people,” he said. 

Last week, the appointment of senior bureaucrat Shakuntala Gamlin as acting Chief Secretary by the L-G, had triggered a full-blown war between the ruling AAP and the L-G; with Kejriwal questioning the L-G’s authority and accusing him of trying to take over the administration.

The Centre, on Saturday, had issued a notification giving absolute powers to the L-G for the appointment of bureaucrats, clarifying that he need not “consult” the Chief Minister on subjects like police and public order.