'Take Lesson' From Sheila Dikshit’s Journey: Congress's Ajay Maken Advises Kejriwal Amid Services Row

Taking to his personal Twitter handle, Maken shared his own experiences as a minister in the Sheila Dikshit government in Delhi during the BJP-led NDA regime at the centre in the early 2000s.

Ajay Maken's advice came as the AAP is engaged in a battle with the Centre.

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing tussle between the AAP-led government in the national capital and LG Vinay Saxena, Former Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken left a piece of advice for Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal while recalling the tenure of the late Sheila Dikshit as CM.

Maken asked Kejriwal to take note of the journey of the late Congress leader for the betterment of Delhi.

His advice came as the Delhi government is engaged in a battle with the Centre over the control of the city's bureaucracy.

Taking to his personal Twitter handle, Maken shared his own experiences as a minister in the Sheila Dikshit government in Delhi during the BJP-led NDA regime at the centre in the early 2000s.

Title: "A Day with Sheila Ji: Reflecting Amidst Kejriwal's Current Power Chaos"

In the early 2000s, a historic shift was underway in Delhi. I was serving as the Transport, Power, and Tourism Minister under Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Ji. We were spearheading a series of…

— Ajay Maken (@ajaymaken) May 21, 2023

"I hope the current Chief Minister takes note of this journey and learns from it," he said.

Ajay Maken asked Kejriwal to engage with officers respectfully, hold dialogues, and persuade them for Delhi's advancement.

"They will certainly align with your vision if it's sincere. Your past actions - summoning officers at ungodly hours, resorting to mistreatment and harsh words - are not constructive. It's crucial to recognize that such behaviour only contributes to the city's distress," he tweeted.

"Reflecting on those years, I firmly believe, Sheila Dikshit Ji's government's first six years were the most productive phase. She fought not for power, but for the betterment of Delhi. Power privatization, CNG conversion, Metro launch, construction of flyovers, hospitals, schools - they all happened because she fought tirelessly for Delhi," Ajay Maken tweeted.

Recalling a particular incident, Maken said that during his tenure as the Transport Minister, the Transport Commissioner was removed without his Knowledge. The decision to replace the Commissioner was taken by the L-G who remained steadfast and refused to reverse his order.

Maken further stated that when he attempted to protest by holding a press conference, Sheila Dikshit advised against the same and refrained him from speaking about their failed attempt. She advised, "With a gentle wave of her fingers, she advised, 'No, no, no… Don't tell anyone about our failed attempt. Officers shouldn't know that we tried and couldn't succeed. If they find out, they might stop taking us seriously'."

He further wrote that her lessons of leadership and diplomacy continue to guide him. "She taught me to tackle obstacles skillfully, to serve with a clear focus on the city's welfare. To offer tea and pakodas when needed, and to stand firm when required. That's Sheila Ji's legacy, a guide to serving public interest above all else," Maken wrote.

"The new officer understood the gravity of the situation. We stood united against various lobbies and earned accolades from the Supreme Court and even the US Government," he stated.

He added, "I say with pride." "We became the first city globally to fully convert its public transport system to CNG."