In a scathing attack on Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday alleged that L-G saheb suffers from a “feudal mindset” and does not want good education for poor children in the city. Terming L-G’s intreference and behaviour as ‘Begaani shaadi me Abdullah deewana’ (an adage in Hindi which roughly translates to — An outsider getting much involved at a stranger’s wedding.”), Kejriwal said the LG is not my headmaster.
“Not even my teachers checked my homework as the L-G scrutinises my files. I was a good student... My school teachers did not check my homework the way LG is checking — this spelling is wrong or the handwriting is not good. He is not my headmaster. Who is LG, where has he come from? He is sitting on our heads. How can he stop us? What powers does he have? People have elected me as Chief Minister. Begaani shaadi mein Abdullah deewana (a stranger who takes too much interest in the affairs of others),” lashed Kejriwal while speaking in the House during the second day of the ongoing winter session on the issue of the LG’s alleged interference in his Government’s work.
Kejriwal further claimed the L-G told him during a meeting that the BJP won 104 seats in the MCD polls because of him and that the BJP would win all the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi in the next general elections. The Chief Minister alleged that the LG “suffered from a feudal mindset and doesn’t want that the poor children in Delhi get good education”.
Raj Niwas and the AAP led Delhi Government’s relationship has been rocky since he took over in May 2022. They have been at loggerheads over many issues including municipal appointments, the release of payments of salaries to government employees, the clearance for free lab tests at Mohalla clinics, and policy issues ranging from excise to transport. The Delhi and Union Governments are also in the middle of a legal battle.
Kejriwal compared LG to the Viceroys that were appointed during the British rule. “Viceroy used to say: You bloody Indians don’t know how to govern! Today LG is saying: You Dilwallas don’t know how to govern!” he added.
“The L-G is openly threatening the Chief Minister. His target is not to work, but to stall the functioning of the elected government and defame CM and the AAP,” Kejriwal said.
Stating that he looks at the children of Delhi as his own children, Kejriwal said, “So many BJP MPs and MLAs have studied abroad. Did their parents do any cost benefit analysis?…I don’t object to that. I object to the mindset of not allowing children of the poor to get good education. L-G saab has the same mindset.” The Chief Minister also showed a list of “children of BJP MPs, MLAs and ministers who have studied abroad”, and said everyone should have access to the best education.
“Nothing is permanent in life. We may be in power at the Centre tomorrow, with our LG. . Tomorrow, if God wills, we may have a Government in the center and our L-G also…We respect the will of the people, democracy and constitution. Our Government will not harass people,” Kejriwal said.
“If CM and Education Minister decide that teachers will go for training in Finland, that should be the end of the matter,” said Kejriwal. “L-G sent objections on the file not once but twice. This means when it goes for the third time, he will object it again. The intent is bad. They don’t want to send teachers to Finland,” he said.
The claims mark an escalation in the running battle between the government and the LG over primacy in administering the capital. Kejriwal on Monday led a march from the Delhi Assembly to L-G’s office against the Union Government-appointed LG’s interference in governance including over the training programme.
He said the LG does not have the power to make decisions on his own. “The Supreme Court has clearly said that he cannot take a call on issues barring the police, land and public order.” Kejriwal added.