Slamming Delhi lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said all the decisions taken by the Delhi Government in the last one-and-a-half years are being rendered “null and void”, leading to chaos. “This will have serious ramifications for the city and it will send Delhi back by almost two years. But unfortunately, that is exactly what is happening in Delhi,” he said, while addressing a Press conference at his residence. Kejriwal said if there is corruption involved in all those decisions, then the l-G can get them investigated, but they should not be made null and void just because his consent was not taken.
Kejriwal’s remarks came a day after the l-G declared Mehboob Alam’s appointment as Delhi Waqf Board CEO illegal and dissolved the religious body on Friday. Jung has also asked the Delhi Government to withdraw its last year’s notification of increasing circle rates of agricultural land in Delhi.
Kejriwal said before the August 4 High Court order, the Government took various decisions “legitimately” believing that l-G’s consent was not needed for some issues. “However, the l-G believed that his consent was needed. Our intention was not wrong while taking those decisions. The court case was going on and now there’s the interpretation that his approval is needed,” said Kejriwal. He said that in future, decisions will be taken as per orders of the HC, and whatever order is given by the SC. “But I request the Centre not to victimise the people of Delhi,” he added.
Kejriwal also criticised l-G’s decision to reconstitute Delhi Waqf Board.
“The move came because its chairman Amanatullah Khan was targeting ‘big vested interests’ responsible for corruption in the religious endowments body. Everyone knows that Waqf Board had become the centre of corruption. But after taking over as the chairman of the board, Amanatullah Khan increased its income from Rs 26 lakh to Rs 1 crore by taking several measures,” he said.
He added that from being a centre of corruption, the Waqf Board had turned a new page under the leadership of Amanatullah Khan, who is also an Aam Aadmi Party legislator. “As many as 1,200 widows were given pension, 100 children were given scholarship. Construction of five schools had started. But yesterday (Friday), Waqf Board office was sealed, and we don't know why it was done. We came to know from the Divisional Commissioner that there were no such orders to seal the office,” added Kejriwal.
On Friday, Jung said that Alam’s appointment as CEO of Waqf Board was ‘illegal and void ab initio’ in the absence of necessary approval from the competent authority. He dissolved the board, the term of which was to expire in December 2016.
“We have made many flyovers, now will they be demolishedIJ We constructed 8,000 classrooms. Will they have to be demolished as well. He has scrapped the appointment of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) chairman saying his prior approval was not sought. Will all the DERC's decisions taken in the last one-and-a-half-year be declared null and void. He also quashed the Government’s decision to increase circle rates for agricultural land. Citing that lG’s prior nod was not taken, whether those farmers who sold their land would have to return money to purchaser now,” he asked.