Castigating AAP convener and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his failure during his one-year tenure, Delhi Congress chief and former Union Minister Ajay Maken said that Sheila Dikshit of Congress, Madan lal Khurana, Sahib Singh Verma and Sushma Swaraj of the BJP did splendid job for the development of the national Capital.
Talking to The Pioneer, Maken said that Kejriwal will have to do dialogue and adopt re-conciliatory approach to ensure good governance and fulfil the promises made to the people of Delhi. The following are the excerpts of the interview:
Your first reaction to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s completion of one year in office.
Kejriwal has failed miserably in the past one year as Chief Minister of Delhi. No flyover; no new school; no new college; no new project or road; no new welfare scheme for the poor; no new bus depot; no new buses added to DTC bus fleet; no new hospital; no WiFi. He has misled the people of Delhi on the issue of corruption. Within one year, one third of his Cabinet has been removed due to charges of corruption. Inflation is as high as earlier. No one is talking about inflation. This Government believes in politics of confrontation. This Government has done nothing for aam admis. They did for their MlAs and hiked their salaries. They are concerned about MlAs facilities. The Government is not transparent. The Government is deliberately flouting Rules of Business Transactions that lays out regulation and guidelines with the Centre. This Government’s entire politics is based on confrontation and confusion. Kejriwal is purposely following a course of conflict with the Centre and other agencies to divert the focus away from AAP’s misgovernance and lack of delivery and shrugging of its responsibility while passing the blame to others.
Where does Arvind Kejriwal stand in comparison to former Chief Ministers of DelhiIJ
Actually, Sheila Dikshit of the Congress, Madan lal Khurana, Sahib Singh Verma and Sushma Swaraj of the BJP, all of them did a splendid job for the development of the national Capital. During 15 years tenure of Sheila Dikshit as Chief Minister of Delhi, Congress had won three Assembly polls, two parliamentary elections and one corporation elections. This reflects her performance as Chief Minister of Delhi. Similarly, Madan lal Khurana, Sahib Singh Verma and Sushma Swaraj of the BJP did a superb job for the development of the national Capital. Everyday Arvind Kejriwal comes with a new lie. During Kejriwal regime, Delhi has become a strike capital.
How do you see the ongoing tussle between bureaucracy and AAP GovernmentIJ
Delhi is a Union Territory and governed by the Centre through lieutenant-Governor. When he had decided to contest elections in Delhi, he was aware of the fact about Delhi. Now he is targeting bureaucrats unnecessarily. Actually bureaucracy is the tool of the governance. They are backbone of the administrative system. Kejriwalji will have to do dialogue and adopt re-conciliatory approach with bureaucracy to ensure good governance and fulfil the promises made to the people of Delhi.
The AAP Government has been at the centre of controversies. What’s your view on itIJ
The last one year of Kejriwal Government was full of controversies involving AAP MlAs and its Ministers. There is a long list of controversies that include sting operation showing horse-trading attempts by Kejriwal himself; internal conflict within the party resulting in humiliating ouster of Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan and Prof Anand Kumar; unceremonial dismissal of internal lokpal Admiral Ramdoss; former Minister Rakhi Birlan allegedly accepting Scorpio (SUV) as birthday gift; Jitendra Tomar fake degree row; domestic violence case against Somnath Bharti by his wife; Jarnail Singh booked for beating up an officer on public duty went absconding; Kejriwal Government accused media of taking supari (contract) for conspiring against the AAP; Kumar Viswas defying summons by DCW and row with the lieutenant-Governor.
Your comments on several AAP volunteers being appointed by Kejriwal in the State administrationIJ
The Kejriwal Government talks about corruption, simplicity and honesty. On the other hand, it has appointed large number of volunteers on huge salaries in the Government. Ashish Khetan was made DDC vice-chairman with Cabinet rank; Swati Maliwal was appointed DCW chairperson with monthly salary of Rs1.5 lakh. Besides, over 200 appointments have been made on co-terminus basis by the Government at different level. AAP volunteers not only being appointed in Government departments but also eyeing on the Ministers for day-to-day work.
Water is being provided by this Government at free of cost to every household. Do you feel this gives huge relief to people of DelhiIJ
I fail to undertstand what kind of relief Arvind Kejriwal is talking about. The water bills have been reduced and sewage charges have been increased manifold. Deliites receive combined bill of water and sewerage charges and in totality they are paying three times more than what they were paying earlier. So the reduction in water bill is giving no relief to the people as they are paying much higher bill every month. The collection of Delhi Jal Board has been increasing every month. This tells the entire truth of huge abstraction in the name of sewerage charges from aam admi.
Is this Government performing well in terms of revenue generationIJ
The Arvind Kejriwal Government has failed to accelerate the revenue generation. The fiscal position was very robust during Congress regime but this Government has failed generate adequate revenue and therefore the growth of Capital has been adversely affected. In fact the revenue target has been reduced to Rs3,000 crore.