In order to assist Ministers in speedy implementation of work and to accommodate its elected representatives, the AAP Government has announced to appoint party’s 21 MlAs as Parliamentary Secretaries (PS).
The Opposition BJP has criticised the AAP Government’s move to appoint Parliamentary Secretaries in such large number. According to the Government, the move will increase its efficiency in addressing public issues, grievance redressal and other developmental work in the city. However, AAP MlA and former law Minister Somnath Bharti has not been given any responsibility by the Government so far. His name is also not among the 11 MlAs recently appointed as chairman to the District Development Committees.
According to a Government official, Parliamentary Secretaries will not receive any remuneration or any perks of any kind from the Government - meaning no burden on the exchequer. Among the Parliamentary Secretaries who have been appointed by the CM are Praveen Kumar to Education Minister, Sharad Kumar to Revenue Minister, Adarsh Shastri to Information & Technology Minister, Madan lal to Vigilance Minister, Charan Goel to Finance Minister, Sanjeev Jha to Transport Minister, Sarita Singh to Employment Minister, Naresh Yadav to labour Minister, Jarnail Singh to Minister of Development, Rajesh Gupta and Rajesh Rishi to Health Minister.
Apart from them, MlAs Anil Kumar Bajpai has been appointed Parliamentary Secretary to Health Minister, Som Dutt to Industries Minister, Avtar Singh Kalka to Minister of Gurdwara Elections, Vijender Garg Vijay to Minister of PWD, Jarnail Singh to Minister of Power, Kailash Gahlot to Minister of law, Alka lamba to Minister of Tourism, Manoj Kumar to Minister of Food & Civil Supplies, Nitin Tyagi to Minister of Women, Child & Social Welfare and Sukhvir Singh to Minister of languages & Welfare of SC/ST/OBC.
“If a Minister sends his PS for work, he or she will be provided vehicle and offices, but these MlAs will not be given separate salary or perks for this. These 21 MlAs, as Parliamentary Secretaries, would only voluntarily work with the Ministers,” Deputy CM Manish Sisodia had said on Friday.
Senior BJP leader and MlA Vijender Gupta has written to lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and urged him to intervene in the matter as appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries in large numbers is gross misuse of Government machinery. “Arvind Kejriwal has given lollipop to his MlAs to avoid defection and resentment in the party,” Gupta said.