Delhi Ministers Refused To Attend Meetings After CM Kejriwal's Arrest: LG VK Saxena Writes To MHA
The Raj Niwas informed that the Delhi LG wrote to MHA, claiming that Delhi ministers, especially Saurabh Bharadwaj, refused to attend meetings with him, citing excuses
Delhi Lieutenant Governor (L-G) VK Saxena has expressed dismay over the refusal of Delhi ministers to attend meetings convened to discuss the functioning of their ministries following the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. In a letter addressed to the Union Home Ministry, the L-G highlighted the importance of such consultations to ensure the smooth governance of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD).
According to the letter from the L-G Secretariat, meetings were scheduled to be held with key ministers dealing with departments such as water, education, health, transport, environment, and forest. However, ministers Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Atishi, and Saurabh Bharadwaj declined the invitations, citing the enforcement of the model code of conduct as the reason for their absence, news agency PTI reported.
"Upon the arrest of Shri Arvind Kejriwal, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Delhi and subsequent events, especially those related to public health infrastructure in the city, the impeding Summer Action Plan for water availability, etc playing out in the public domain, Lt Governor had decided to convene a meeting of key ministers of GNCTD dealing with the departments of water, education, health, transport, environment & forest etc," the letter from the L-G Secretariat stated, as per PTI's report.
"An intimation was sent to Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj for a meeting on April 2. However, all the ministers have vide e-mails declined to attend the said meeting on the specious ground that since the model code of conduct is in force, such a meeting would not be appropriate at this stage," it added.
"Hon'ble Lt Governor believes that a consultation of this nature was warranted so that routine works of governance are not hampered in the backdrop of arrest and detention of the chief minister," the letter further read.
Key Delhi ministers showed 'lack of seriousness': Delhi L-G
The L-G expressed concern that the refusal to attend meetings displayed a lack of seriousness and sensitivity towards matters impacting the daily lives of Delhi citizens. He emphasised the necessity of such consultations to ensure that routine governance activities are not disrupted, especially in light of recent events affecting public health infrastructure and the Summer Action Plan for water availability in the city, the report stated.
The letter noted that the reasons given for not attending the meeting appeared to be vague and exhibited a lack of seriousness and insensitivity to matters affecting the day-to-day lives of the citizens of Delhi, PTI reported.
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