Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Deputy Manish Sisodia met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is said to have advised them to avoid confrontation and resolve all issues with the Centre and the l-G amicably through cooperation. The advice came when Kejriwal told the Home Minister about the difficulties being faced by the Delhi Government in the wake of the ongoing tussle with lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung over transfer and postings of bureaucrats.
During the hour-long meeting, Kejriwal and Sisodia sought the Home Ministry’s cooperation in running the State Government and conveyed to Rajnath that because of the constant tussle with the lieutenant-Governor, smooth functioning of the administration has become tough. It is learnt that issues related to appointment of ACB chief Mukesh Kumar Meena, transfer order related to Dharampal and other transfers and posting orders declared void ab initio by the lieutenant-Governor, were also discussed at the meeting.
Sources said Kejriwal asked the Home Minister to intervene and ensure that all issues with the l-G are resolved amicably. “The Home Minister gave them a patient hearing and assured full cooperation from the Central Government,” a source said. Kejriwal has been advised not to resort to confrontation and has been explained that rules framed by the Home Ministry are in accordance with the Government of National Capital Territory (GNCT) of Delhi Act, sources told The Pioneer.
Rajnath also asked Kejriwal to resolve all issues with the Centre and the lieutenant-Governor amicably through cooperation as Government can function only through rules, regulations and cooperation. Deputy CM Sisodia told reporters that they had raised all issues concerning Delhi. This is the first time Kejriwal has met the Home Minister since the tussle between the AAP Government and l-G over appointment of senior IAS officer Shakuntala Doley Gamlin as acting CS. The AAP Government has challenged in court a Home Ministry notification which said that the l-G has the final say in appointment of senior bureaucrats. There was also a tussle between the two over the appointment of officials to the State Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB).