Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) national spokesperson Raghav Chadha on Monday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to replace the Delhi Government’s lawyers with its own public prosecutors (PPs) in cases related to the farmers’ agitation.
The BJP does not want to bring justice but is doing all to seek revenge in order to harass and defame innocent farmers, he said, adding that the BJP should not interfere in impartial judicial action and stop their nefarious attempts at punishing innocent farmers.
“The Kejriwal Government will protect the farmers and prevent the BJP from seeking revenge. The duty of the Centre is not to seek revenge but to bring justice,” he said.
The AAP leader further claimed that Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal in a meeting on July 1 had admitted that the lawyers of the Delhi Government are very capable.
“A few days back, a virtual meeting took place between the Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi and the Home Minister. In that meeting, it was admitted that the Delhi Government’s public prosecutors are doing a very good job. It was also admitted and accepted that the Delhi Government’s PPs are handling the cases properly but still the L-G said that they will remove the Delhi Government’s lawyers and get new lawyers,” he said.
“When the L-G has already admitted that Delhi Government’s lawyers are very capable then what is the intention behind removing them and bringing the BJP’s lawyers?” he asked.
Chadha also accused the BJP of not resolving farmers’ issues who are sitting on Delhi’s threshold for eight months.
On July 1, in a meeting held between the L-G and the Delhi Home Minister, the L-G categorically expressed his disagreement at Home Minister’s turning down the valid request of the Delhi Police for appointment of special PPs.
Also, in a letter sent to the Chief Minister on July 2, the L-G said, “The Delhi Police has already given a detailed justification for the appointment of 11 special PPs in these matters.
These cases are sensitive in nature and require careful handling in a time-bound manner in view of the gravity of the offences and implications for law and order. Therefore, I see no reason why the proposal of Delhi Police should not be agreed to.”
“While discharging these duties, the PP acts in a manner that is fair to the court to the investigating agency as well as to the accused in accordance with the guiding principles of the spirit of law based on precedence, common sense and equity. Therefore, there is no reason to suspect that the special PP would not perform their duty fearlessly and impartially as officers of the court,” he said in the letter.
“Since the difference of opinion still persists, I would request Chief Minister to expeditiously refer the matter to the Council of Ministers for its consideration and decision in view of the significance and urgency of the matter and the decision of the Council of Ministers be communicated expeditiously, preferably within a week,” he had said.