'Would Have Loved To Serve Lunch But...': Delhi LG's Stinging Letter To CM Kejriwal
“I would have, indeed, loved to have you over and served you lunch as well. However, you chose not to come on the pretext of wanting to meet me with all your MLAs,” the LG wrote in the letter.
New Delhi: Delhi LG Vinay Kumar Saxena has written to CM Arvind Kejriwal responding to the latter’s claim of LG’s alleged interference in the government’s work. The LG mentioned that statements made by CM Kejriwal in and out of the State Assembly are ‘severely and substantively misleading, untrue and derogatory’.
“As to ‘who is LG’ and ‘where does he come from’, etc. can be answered, if you were to even cursorily refer to the Constitution of India, others do not deserve a reply, since they obviously cater to a very low level of discourse,” the LG mentioned in the letter.
The letter went on to discuss several issues raised by CM Kejriwal.
On Delhi CM And AAP MLAs March To LG’s Residence
The LG referred to media reports mentioning protests by CM Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP leaders to Raj Niwas demanding to meet him. The LG said that he, afterwards, invited the CM and his Deputy to meet him.
“I would have, indeed, loved to have you over and served you lunch as well. However, you chose not to come on the pretext of wanting to meet me with all your MLAs,” the LG wrote in the letter.
He further said, “You would appreciate that, given the short notice and sudden demand on your part, it would not have been possible at once to have a meeting with 70-80 people, nor would have it served any concrete purpose.”
The LG then accused Kejriwal of not meeting him and conveniently making a political posture that ‘the LG refused to meet me’.
He wrote that he was astounded that while the city is grappling with serious issues, ‘you found time to walk for long and stage a protest meant solely for posturing, rather than taking the issue to a logical conclusion by meeting me’.
On Being Called ‘Headmaster’
Reacting over matters pertaining to Delhi’s education system and teachers’ training, the LG said that it is right to bring into CM’s attention certain issues pertaining to educational sectors in the national capital.
He said, “In doing so, I am not acting as a ‘Head Master’, as you have been sarcastically referring to me, but as a benign yet conscientious voice of the people that derives its sanctity from the ethical and moral moorings of the Constitution of India.”
The LG went on to highlight data relating to the enrollment, attendance, and level of education in various Delhi Government schools. He said that average attendance in schools has fallen down to reach 60.65 per cent in 2019-20 as compared to 70.73 per cent in 2012-13.
“Enrollment in government schools that stood at 16.1 lakh during 2012-2014, consistently came down to 15.1 lakh in 2019-2020,” he wrote adding that this happened despite the fact that the population of the city continued to grow during this period.
LG Saxena mentioned that in a recent meeting with the CM, he had flagged the issue of not building any new schools in the national capital during the last eight years, ‘despite DDA allotting 13 plots to the Education Department, GNCTD, since as long as 2015.’
He further said, “ Despite claims of unprecedented improvement in the government education system in Delhi, as pa National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2021, the performance of about 30% of students in Delhi Government Schools till Class VIII is below basic levels and about 44% students, it is barely basic.”
He also accused the Delhi government of ‘rampant adhocism’ in schools adding that this happened even after clearing of the dossiers of 15,636 posts.
On Sending Teachers For Training To Finland
The LG also emphasised on allegation of CM that the former is not allowing the teachers to go for training in Finland.
LG Vinay Saxena responded to the claims saying ‘I did not reject the proposal thereof’ adding that he raised a few queries with respect to the impact assessment and cost-benefit analysis of such visits which have been going on for the past few years.
He said that he asked the department whether such training could not be obtained in a more cost-effective manner in our own Institutions of Excellence like the IIMs.
The LG mentioned that in the last, he has cleared the proposals of ending 55 Principals and Vice Principals of government schools to Cambridge in two batches for 10 days each.
The LG also mentioned the complaint by several Deli University colleges, fully funded by GNCTD, over nonpayment of salaries and ‘deliberate estoppel of already sanctioned funds’.
The LG said that he is sure CM Kejriwal is a driven person and will take cognizance of the facts stated in the letter and would take remedial measures to rectify the shortcomings.
“I reiterate that I write to you, not only as the Lt. Governor of Delhi but also as a concerned resident of the City,” the LG wrote while concluding the letter.
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