The tussle between the Aam Admi Party (AAP) Government and lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung touched its nadir after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote a letter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing Jung of interfering in the functioning of the Government.
The Pioneer had reported earlier that the l-G’s office instructed the Delhi Government officials not to follow its “illegal” orders pertaining to increased pay scale for DANICS and Commission of Inquiry. The memorandum was of administrative in nature linked to hike in pay scales of DANICS and Commission of Inquiry.
Angry over the l-G’s memorandum, Kejriwal has tried to divert the issue and linked the memorandum with dengue outbreak alleging that Jung should not have issued such an directive which created confusion in the administration when it was battling to contain the dengue menace, said sources.
BJP MlA Vijender Gupta termed the CMs letter as “mischievous and diversionist in intent”.
Reacting on the Kejriwal’s reaction on memorandum, a senior officer of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said it was responsibility of the l-G to convey the Union of India’s order to all officials about these two orders of the MHA.
As far as dengue is concerned, it is State subject and the MHA’s order has nothing to do with dengue and its related works. “There is no point when MHA has declared hike in pay scale for DANICS and Commission of Inquiry as illegal and ab initio void to reiterate its decision and depute persons at various capacity These two issues have got to do nothing with the dengue menace as the Kejriwal Government has been found wanting in controlling the spread of the disease that has attained frightening proportions in the national capital,” said sources.
On the other hand, seeking Modi’s intervention after the l-G’s memorandum, Kejriwal said the issue can be sorted out two months later when the crisis subsides and that the Centre and the Delhi Government should now work closely to deal with the challenge of the mosquito-borne disease which is worst in the last five years.
The CM said Jung, in his order, has stated that the Centre has directed him to issue the directive and that he cautioned them of salary cut and other strict action if they do not follow it.
The l-G and the AAP Government have been on collision course on number of issues in the past few months.
“If the Centre wants to fight, it can do so two months later, when the crisis will subside. At least for two months, until the time dengue is in Delhi, they should not resort to such things and instead assist the government in fighting dengue. I urge you not to create confusion in the minds of the officers at this point and to let us work together as a team,” Arvind Kejriwal said in the letter
to Modi.