MHA cancels appointment of 9 Delhi government advisors

NEW DELHI: Appointment of nine advisors to ministers in Delhi government was on Tuesday cancelled on the recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The General Administration Department of the Delhi government which comes directly under Lieutenant Governor of Delhi took the decision based on a letter by MHA. No prior approval of the central government has been taken for creation of said posts on which these persons have been appointed on a co-terminus basis,” the order stated.

The sacked officials include known faces of the AAP government, including Atishi Marlena, who was the advisor to deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia. Others sacked include advisor to the finance minister Raghav Chaddha and Sisodia’s media advisors Arunoday Prakash and Amardeep Tiwari.

Reacting strongly to the decision, Deputy Education Minister Manish Sisodia said the latest move by the Modi government was to target his advisor Atishi Marlena as she was instrumental in improving the education system in the national Capital.

NEW DELHI: Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia on Tuesday attacked the Bjp-led Central government saying that they want to stop the educational development of Delhi regarding the sacking of 9 Delhi government advisers. Launching a scathing attack on the Centre over the issue, Sisodia said that the Narendra Modi governments order was a "conspiracy to derail" the "education revolution" in Delhi. Since no BJP government has been able to deliver anything in education and health sectors, the Centre is trying to paralyse the AAP government, he alleged, adding his advisor Atisi Marlena, who was playing a "vital role" in improving the education system, has been "targeted".

According to an order issued by General Administration Department of the Delhi government, the MHA had written in its letter that these posts on which the appointees are officiating are not in the list of posts approved for the ministers and the chief minister of Delhi. "No prior approval of the central government has been taken for creation of said posts on which these persons have been appointed on co-terminus basis," the GAD order stated.

The Home ministry had sent the letter to GAD on April 10. The services are under the Lieutenant Governor.

Among the nine advisers whose appointments were cancelled are Amardeep Tiwari (media adviser to law minister), Arunodya Prakash (media adviser to deputy chief minister), Raghav Chadha (adviser to finance minister), Atishi Marlena (media adviser to deputy chief minister). Sisodia said that the Bjp-led government has targeted his advisor Marlena through this order as she is playing a vital role in improving the education system.

The deputy chief minister said that out of nine advisors, only four are currently working with the Delhi government.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to undermine the Delhi's education system that is why this order has been issued today," Sisodia alleged. The Arvind Kejriwal government and the Centre have been at loggerheads on a range of issues, especially appointment of officials.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta said that proper procedure of appointment was not adopted in appointments of the nine advisors.