New Delhi: Following Delhi Lieutenant Governor Lt Governor VK Saxena's letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs, AAP Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj reacted sharply on the matter saying Saxena can fight the elections and defeat Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal if he is interested in running the union territory's government.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Bharadwaj said, "Delhi LG (Vinai Kumar Saxena) needs to understand the Constitution...Water, health, environment and forest are all transferred subjects of the elected govt...When we tell him our problems, he says that they are transferred subjects but now he is calling a meeting of the ministers...If the LG is interested in running the govt then he can fight the elections and defeat Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal."
Delhi L-G Writes To MHA Over Senior Delhi Ministers' 'Lack Of Seriousness'
Delhi L-G VK Saxena flagged alleged insensitivity and lack of seriousness exhibited by Delhi ministers claiming they refused to attend meetings called to discuss the functioning of their ministries following the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. CM Kejriwal's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21, in connection with a money-laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, prompted the LG to convene consultations to ensure the smooth running of governance amid the situation, reported PTI.
However, the ministers declined the invitation, citing the enforcement of the model code of conduct as the reason. In a letter to the Union Home Ministry, the LG emphasised the necessity of such consultations to prevent disruption in routine governance tasks.
Following the arrest of Delhi CM and ensuing public concerns, the Lieutenant Governor decided to convene a meeting of key ministers dealing with critical departments such as water, education, health, transport, environment, and forest, as per the letter.
An invitation was sent to Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Atishi, and Saurabh Bharadwaj for a meeting on April 2, the letter stated. 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 said.
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 added. It was also noted in the letter that the rationale adduced for not attending the meeting appears vague and exhibits lack of seriousness and insensitivity to matters affecting the day-to-day lives of the citizens of Delhi.