The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today described the central government’s decision to give absolute powers in certain areas to Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung as “unconstitutional”.
Meanwhile, former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah backed Kejriwal in the Centre Vs Delhi Government divide, saying that as a chief minister with an sweeping mandate to run the government should have the “freedom and flexibility” to choose his team instead of an “unelected LG”.
In a massive snub to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Centre had said that the Lieutenant Governor is not bound to consult the Delhi Government on services.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lt Governor Najeeb Jung have been locked in a bitter turf war over the appointment of acting Chief Secretary Shakuntala Gamlin, where Kejriwal had questioned the LG’s authority and accused him of trying to take over the administration.
Wanting to discuss the ongoing controversy over the appointment of IAS officer Shakuntala Gamlin as the acting chief secretary, the central IAS officers’ association has called a meeting on Monday, May 25.
An angry Kejriwal hit out at the Centre.
Prime Minister Modi is trying to run Delhi government through backdoor with 3 MLAs. Centre issued gazette notification as it wants to control transfer-posting in Delhi. They have backstabbed people of Delhi through this notification. I want to ask Modi Ji, who are the people he want to save through this notification. We are getting the gazette notification examined by constitutional experts, will take a call accordingly. I am not in a ‘jung’ with Governor Jung, we are simply fighting corruption. Every order comes from above, Mr Jung is just the face. Before independence, the Queen of England used to send notifications to the Viceroy here. Now, Jung Sahab is the Viceroy and PMO is London.
– Arvind Kejriwal
Later, in a gazette notification, the Union Home Ministry said that the LG will have jurisdiction over matters connected with services, public order, police and land.
The notification added, that the Lt Governor may consult with the Chief Minister whenever he thinks necessary in issues of services using his own “discretion”.
Public order, police, land and services fall outside purview of legislative assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi and consequently the Government of NCT of Delhi will have no executive power.
- Gazette Notification From Centre
The terse notification added that,
Union Territory cadre consisting of IAS, IPS service personnel is common to Union Territories of Delhi, Chandigarh, Andaman and Nicobar islands, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Puducherry and states of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Mizoram which is administered by Central government through the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Gazette Notification From Centre
Here are some of the reactions that were doing the rounds on social media about the fight between the Delhi Government and the Centre:
(With Inputs From PTI)