Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed various issues, including disbursal of enhanced compensation cheques for the kin of 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims, on Monday at Akbar Road.
Also, Kejriwal and Sisodia are believed to have discussed the recent decision of the MHA to term the setting up of ‘Commission of Enquiry’ by the Delhi Government as “illegal”.
“The Chief Minister and his deputy discussed the issue of disbursal of enhanced compensation cheques to kin of the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots victims, a scheme announced by the Central Government, besides the ongoing tussle between lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and ACB over the issue of setting up Commission of Enquiry and filing a chargesheet in the case without approval of the state government,” sources said.
Sources said Kejriwal told the Home Minister about the difficulties being faced by the Delhi Government in the wake of the ongoing tussle with the l-G over transfer and postings of bureaucrats.
During the 45-minute long meeting with Singh, Kejriwal and Sisodia sought the Home Ministry’s cooperation in running the State Government and conveyed that because of the constant tussle with the l-G, smooth functioning of the administration has become tough.
On August 12, the Delhi Cabinet had approved the distribution of enhanced compensation cheques of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims in the national Capital, as announced by the Centre.
The Centre will refund the compensation amount to the State Government as it was their scheme. The Delhi Government has estimated expenditure of Rs 120 crore on compensation.
During the meeting with Singh, Kejriwal and Sisodia are also believed to have discussed the functioning of Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB). Besides, they are also believed to have discussed the issue of the Home Ministry’s recent decision to term the setting up of ‘Commission of Enquiry’ by the state government as “illegal”. later, the Delhi Government had refused to accept the decision, saying,
“The Union Home ministry does not have the power to declare as void the Delhi Government’s probe into an alleged Rs100-CNG fitness scam. In his letter to the l-G last month, Sisodia had said, “The Delhi Government was neither a subordinate department of the Home Ministry nor “accountable” to it...It is only the judiciary which has power to declare any order of GNCTD null and void.”
The AAP Government has been repeatedly claiming that the l-G’s alleged role is also suspected in the scam as he is trying to protect the Ministers of the then Congress Government of Delhi and its top officials.