Kejri targets Jung over DCW member secy’s appointment

NEW DELHI: Objecting to the appointment of IAS officer Dilraj Kaur as member secretary of Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), chief minister Arvind Kejriwal accused lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung of acting in a ‘dictatorial’ manner.

Senior IAS officer Kaur is social welfare secretary in the Delhi government and was given additional charge of DCW member secretary on Tuesday.

“LG is acting like Hitler, following in footsteps of his masters Mr Modi n Amit Shah. Najeeb Jung has sold his consience with an eye on Vice President post but Modi will never appoint a Muslim, irrespective of what Jung does (sic.),” Kejriwal said in a series of tweets on Wednesday.

The appointment added fire to the continued tug of war between L-G office and the elected Delhi government over administrative jurisdiction. While the Delhi High Court order in August had stamped the L-G as the administrative head of the city, the AAP government has been pressing for consultations with the elected government over key decisions, including transfer and posting of senior officers.

“Kaur has been given additional charge of DCW as a stopgap arrangement. Meanwhile, the chief secretary, who is head of the civil services board, has been asked to expedite the process and make a full time appointment as early as possible,” an official in LG’s secretariat said.

The official refuted AAP government’s claims that a proposal recommending a name for the appointment is pending with the L-G’s office.

The DCW termed the appointment ‘illegal’ and said they don’t accept it. “The nomination by the Delhi Government and its concurrence, which is a prerequisite for the appointment of the member secretary, has not been taken,” said chief Swati Maliwal.

Maliwal said the DCW will appeal to the President to intervene.