The AAP has alleged that Lieutenant-Governor, Vinai Kumar Saxena misused his position and awarded an interior designing contract for the Khadi India Lounge in Mumbai to his daughter, without floating a tender, when he was the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) chairman and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "immediately" sack him. In a series of press conferences held on Friday, the AAP leaders called it a case of "moral corruption" by Saxena and claimed that “a financial angle” in it would also come out if “a fair and thorough” probe is conducted into the award of interior designing work to his daughter Shivangi Saxena without floating a tender.
Addressing a joint press conference with five party MLAs, AAP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged, "L-G VK Saxena, during his term as KVIC Chairman, misused his position and awarded a contract for interior designing of a Khadi lounge in Mumbai to his daughter. In awarding the contract, he violated the provisions of the KVIC Act 1961."
"Did the Prime Minister find only this tainted person (Saxena) in the country to appoint as Delhi’s L-G? He must be sacked immediately,” Singh demanded. The AAP is holding consultations with its senior lawyers and preparing to approach the court in the matter, Singh said.
Replying to questions on the Raj Niwas' clarification, Singh said the KVIC Act clearly bars its officials from awarding any contract or work to any of their family members. "What kind of logic is this? Saurabh Bharadwaj (AAP leader) who is a computer engineer, wants to do Central Vista IT work for free. Our Praveen Deshmukh (AAP MLA), who is an MBA, wants to take care of the management of the Prime Minister's Office for free. Will they be given this work?” he asked.
AAP MLA Atishi said as per the law, no KVIC office-bearer can award any contract to any family member.
In another press conference, AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said that Saxena should welcome a probe into accusations against him, as Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia did, and come out clean.
The AAP spokesperson took exception to the L-G’s office issuing clarifications on allegations against Saxena through its official Twitter handle and called it “inappropriate”.