Mounting pressure on the AAP Government for not appointing lokayukta, the Congress staged a protest here on Monday demanding that the post — which has been lying vacant since November 2013 — be immediately filled. It also filed a symbolic complaint with the vacant chair of the anti-graft ombudsman seeking action against legislators of the ruling party, including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Taking a potshot at the AAP Government over its reported demand for referendum on full Statehood for Delhi, State Congress chief Ajay Maken asked why Kejriwal had not proposed referendum on issues of increasing salaries of the MlAs and hiking budget for his publicity campaign.
“Kejriwal is talking about increasing salaries of his MlAs. Did he call for a referendum in that caseIJ Did Kejriwal seek referendum for increasing budget for his publicity campaign from Rs24 crore to Rs526 croreIJ Did he seek referendum before recruiting AAP men on Government postsIJ He wants referendum to pick up fights,” Maken said.
Daring the Kejriwal-led party, the Congress said it will show the AAP how to run an administration while staying within the existing constitutional set up.
“Unfortunately, the post of lokayukta has been lying vacant in Delhi since November 2013. And unfortunately for the past five months, there is a Government of a party which would talk about Janlokpal and still not implement lokayukta and lokpal,” said Ajay Maken.
The Congress further threatened to step up its stir if the post of lokayukta was not filled within a week and action on its complaint not taken.
“last time, they (AAP) ran away in 49 days, saying they were not allowed to enact Janlokpal. Now 150 days have passed, where is lokpalIJ Old lokayukta too is not appointed yet,” Maken said, adding that “despite passing of two Assembly Sessions, there is still no trace of the Janlokpal Act.”
Maken also filed a petition against the ruling party MlAs before a vacant chair in a symbolic gesture during the protest and proceeded to make complaint against some the AAP legislators in the office of lokayukta.