launching a frontal attack on the Central Government, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday wrote a strongly worded letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for interfering in the functioning of his Government.
Kejriwal accused the Centre of not letting them work as senior officers have been transferred out without consulting them.
He also charged that after losing Delhi elections, the Modi government was deliberately creating hurdles in the functioning of the Delhi Government. “But this negative politics doesn’t go well with the people. Today, the whole country is saying that the Delhi Government is doing great work but Prime Minister Modiji is not letting him work. We all are doing our dharmas. If Modiji Government is bent upon creating obstacles we are also bent upon cleaning up the system and working for the people against all odds. Is it true that most of the decisions related to the Delhi Government which are taken by the MHA are dictated by PMOIJ” Kejriwal said in the letter.
Kejriwal was angry over the transfer of several bureaucrats including VAT commissioner Vijay Kumar, Food and Supplies commissioner Sanjiv Khirwar and Directorate of Education Padmini Singla as there was no representation from Delhi Government during a meeting of Joint Cadre Authority (JCA) last week.
The letter said, “Kumar was posted as VAT Commissioner less than a month ago. Many plans were made. The results had just started coming in. Suddenly, midway, without consulting the Delhi Government, Kumar was transferred out to lakshadweep by the Union Government. So, the question is - why has he been transferred outIJ There are six officers who have served in Delhi for longer periods than Vijay Kumar. If at all stay in Delhi was the reason, then first these six officers should have been transferred out,” Kejriwal said, adding. that Gamlin’s name is at the top of the officers who have served longest in Delhi. “She has served in Delhi longer than Kumar. If at all tenure of stay in Delhi was a Criteria, then Gamlin ought to have been transferred out first,” Kejriwal said.
According to the letter, Directorate of Education Padmini Singla was anchoring all reforms in the education sector, has been transferred out. She does not qualify for transfer on any of the grounds. Especially her husband is also posted in Delhi and on spouse grounds she could not have been transferred out. It is noted that both Vijay Kumar and Padmini Singla are considered close to AAP regime. A close scrutiny of these transfer orders shows that the Central Government has picked up some of its best officers posted on critical posts and transferred them out of Delhi.
It would pertinent to mention that Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia wanted to attend the meeting in place of chief secretary but the MHA did not allow due to technical reasons.
Kejriwal further alleged that these transfer orders have not been done on the basis of any principles. “These orders seem to be another step in the series of steps taken by the Union Government to destabilise, cripple and fail the Delhi Government. This is unfair,” alleged Kejriwal, highlighting a few instances that include appointment of acting chief secretary Shakuntala Gamlin for 10 days in the absence of KK Sharma, appointment of Joint Commissioner of Police Mukesh Kumar Meena as ACB chief and taking away services department from the State Government.
The Chief Minister further alleged that lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung has declared more than 25 orders of the Delhi Government “null and void”. “Most legal experts believe that lieutenant Governor or Union Government do not have the powers to declare the orders of an elected Government “null and void” under the principles of separation of powers. If at all Union Government feels that Delhi Government ‘s orders are bad, the Union Government may approach judiciary but they cannot infringe on the domain of an elected State Government. In the last 23 years, none of the lieutenant Governor or the Union Government declared any order of the Delhi Government “null and void”, the letter said.