Why is CAG not auditing ad spend of Centre, other states, asks Delhi CM

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal termed the Comptroller and Auditor General’s audit report on the Delhi government’s ad spend as “politically motivated” and accused the auditor of acting at the behest of the BJP.

“There was a time when the CAG used to unearth 2G and coal scam. But it’s painful that now it is doing politics. The moot question is why is the incumbent CAG doing so? I would request the CAG to leave politics for politicians,” Kejriwal told reporters at Delhi assembly.

Kejriwal dared the central auditor to come up with rules that bar the state government from advertising outside Delhi.

“All governments are doing it. If we have improved ease of doing business then we will like to advertise in Mumbai, requesting people to invest in Delhi. Other governments spend crores in holding investors’ summits. We chose to reach out by putting out ads. What’s wrong with it?” the AAP national convener said.

The chief minister said his government had requested the CAG to audit the advertisement budget of others states and the Centre, but the central auditor refused to conduct it.

Refuting the observations that the Delhi government ads on saving money in construction of flyovers and dispensaries were non-verifiable, Kejriwal said all related documents were provided to the auditors. Accusing the BJP-ruled MCDs of making the municipal bodies a centre of corruption, AAP leader Dilip Pandey said the CAG report submitted to the assembly on Friday vindicated their stand.

“The MCD has not fulfilled its responsibilities to control vector-borne diseases. BJP has changed the nomenclature of the MCD from municipal corporation of Delhi into malaria chikunguniya and dengue. BJP and Congress have made MCD a centre of corruption and Delhi as a dustbin,” the AAP leader said.