Take action against Sheila Dikshit: AAP to Pranab
4 Feb 2014 6:17 AM IST
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has written to president of India Pranab Mukherjee seeking action against predecessor Sheila Dikshit for alleged irregularities in regularising unauthorised colonies in the city. The government is expected to take action in cases related to various scams during her reign, including the Commonwealth Games scam. However, the opposition has slammed the action and called it a publicity stunt as the matter is pending with the union home ministry. Interestingly, the Congress party against whose leaders Kejriwal is demanding action has been providing outside support to his government.
‘The chief minister has written to the president for inquiry against Dikshit for misleading the people on the name of provisional certificates to unauthorised colonies to get mileage in the Delhi assembly election 2009,’ said Manish Sisodia, Delhi’s education minister, on Monday. The issue dates back to 2008 just before the Delhi assembly elections when residents of 1,218 unauthorised colonies were distributed provisional certificates by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and then Delhi chief minister Dikshit. These colonies lack basic amenities, infrastructure and even vacant space for these facilities to be set up.
The move of the Kejriwal government came as the reply to a letter in which the president sought the Delhi government’s comments on the report of the Lokayukta in which Justice Manmohan Sarin in November 2013 had ruled that granting of provisional certificate for regularisation of unauthorised colonies in 2008 by Dikshit was done to gain political mileage in the elections. The Lokayukta, in his order, observed that the norms laid down by Supreme Court and government agencies were violated to distribute provisional certificates prior to election and sent the report to the president.
‘Delhi government has no role in this case as the president has already directed for action and the matter is pending with the union ministry of home affairs. Kejriwal should take action on CWG scam if he is really serious about action against Dikshit for her involvement in corruption cases,’ said Harsh Vardhan to Millennium Post. Vardhan had filed a complaint with the Lokayukta in this matter in 2010. Vardhan also raised the issue in the assembly several times but the Congress government at the Centre came to Dikshit’s rescue every time. Earlier, despite the adverse remarks of the Lokayukta, the then PWD minister Raj Kumar Chouhan was granted relief by the president in an alleged case of corruption.
Delhi cabinet clears Jan Lokpal Bill
NEW DELHI: Delhi cabinet on Monday cleared the draft of the much talked-about Jan Lokpal Bill which provides for covering all public servants – from chief minister to Group D employees – and seeks life term as maximum punishment for those found guilty of corruption. The bill provides for a legal right of protection to ‘honest’ officials, whistleblowers and witnesses besides having provisions for time-bound investigation and trial of corruption cases.
The draft bill was cleared at a cabinet meeting presided over by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. Bringing the Jan Lokpal Bill to contain corruption was a key election promise made to the voters by AAP. PWD minister Manish Sisodia said no provision for any ‘special privileges’ for even the CM and council of ministers has been proposed in the bill when it comes to cracking down on corruption. He said government will not send the bill to the home ministry for approval. Sources said the law department had mentioned in its noting that there as per existing norms, Delhi government has to get clearance from the home ministry before tabling any bill.
‘The chief minister has written to the president for inquiry against Dikshit for misleading the people on the name of provisional certificates to unauthorised colonies to get mileage in the Delhi assembly election 2009,’ said Manish Sisodia, Delhi’s education minister, on Monday. The issue dates back to 2008 just before the Delhi assembly elections when residents of 1,218 unauthorised colonies were distributed provisional certificates by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and then Delhi chief minister Dikshit. These colonies lack basic amenities, infrastructure and even vacant space for these facilities to be set up.
The move of the Kejriwal government came as the reply to a letter in which the president sought the Delhi government’s comments on the report of the Lokayukta in which Justice Manmohan Sarin in November 2013 had ruled that granting of provisional certificate for regularisation of unauthorised colonies in 2008 by Dikshit was done to gain political mileage in the elections. The Lokayukta, in his order, observed that the norms laid down by Supreme Court and government agencies were violated to distribute provisional certificates prior to election and sent the report to the president.
‘Delhi government has no role in this case as the president has already directed for action and the matter is pending with the union ministry of home affairs. Kejriwal should take action on CWG scam if he is really serious about action against Dikshit for her involvement in corruption cases,’ said Harsh Vardhan to Millennium Post. Vardhan had filed a complaint with the Lokayukta in this matter in 2010. Vardhan also raised the issue in the assembly several times but the Congress government at the Centre came to Dikshit’s rescue every time. Earlier, despite the adverse remarks of the Lokayukta, the then PWD minister Raj Kumar Chouhan was granted relief by the president in an alleged case of corruption.
Delhi cabinet clears Jan Lokpal Bill
NEW DELHI: Delhi cabinet on Monday cleared the draft of the much talked-about Jan Lokpal Bill which provides for covering all public servants – from chief minister to Group D employees – and seeks life term as maximum punishment for those found guilty of corruption. The bill provides for a legal right of protection to ‘honest’ officials, whistleblowers and witnesses besides having provisions for time-bound investigation and trial of corruption cases.
The draft bill was cleared at a cabinet meeting presided over by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. Bringing the Jan Lokpal Bill to contain corruption was a key election promise made to the voters by AAP. PWD minister Manish Sisodia said no provision for any ‘special privileges’ for even the CM and council of ministers has been proposed in the bill when it comes to cracking down on corruption. He said government will not send the bill to the home ministry for approval. Sources said the law department had mentioned in its noting that there as per existing norms, Delhi government has to get clearance from the home ministry before tabling any bill.
Next Story
