AAP, BJP trade charges in office-of-profit row
NEW DELHI: Chief minister-Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “political vendetta”, escalating the Delhi government’s fight with the Centre over 21 AAP legislators facing disqualification for holding multiple paying positions.
The BJP hit back, saying Kejriwal was obsessed with attacking the Prime Minister and also accused AAP of lying under oath that no perks were given to the parliamentary secretaries, specially created official posts to help ministers discharge their duties. The latest confrontation between the Centre and AAP government was sparked by President Pranab Mukherjee’s refusal to sign a bill that would allow the 21 MLAs to hold the second paying position.
Kejriwal said the President’s decision was based on the Centre’s recommendation and questioned why similar action was not taken in other states which too have parliamentary secretaries.
“There are parliamentary secretaries in Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, West Bengal and across the country. Those in Punjab get `1 lakh per month, car and bungalow as well. But they have not been disqualified. Why only Delhi? Because he (Modi) is scared of Aam Aadmi Party,” said Kejriwal, who has repeatedly clashed with the Centre over officers’ appointment, files and governmental jurisdiction.
“Modiji says Sonia Gandhiji isn’t allowing the Parliament to function because she can’t digest defeat. Want to ask Modiji, is he not allowing Delhi government to function because he is unable to digest defeat in Delhi?”
A 2003 constitutional amendment capped the number of ministerial berths to 15% of the House strength. Since then several states started appointing parliamentary secretaries, using the posts to keep legislators without ministerial berths happy.
The BJP deployed two of its leaders to counter the AAP charges. “In its affidavit to the Election Commission, AAP had said no emoluments, perks or facilities were provided to the parliamentary secretaries. That amounts to perjury,” said party MP Meenakshi Lekhi who released a list of rooms purportedly allotted in the assembly building to the 21 MLAs.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra criticised Kejriwal for questioning the decision of the President. “You (Kejriwal) have certain political ambitions, rightly so under a democratic system, but for god’s sake don’t demean the credibility of the President of India because in the end you are demeaning the democracy of this country,” Patra said.
The Congress also attacked the AAP over the issue, seeking Kejriwal’s resignation for making false claims. “In no other state, one third of legislators have been appointed as parliamentary secretaries. The appointments were aimed at providing red beacons to the MLAs,” Delhi Congress chief A jay Ma ken said. Disqualification of the MLAs would come as a major setback for Kejriwal who stormed to power two years ago on an anti-corruption plank. The AAP has 67 MLAs in the 70-member assembly. The remaining three are BJP legislators.
The Election Commission is examining the petitions seeking disqualification of the legislators, who are said to have replied to the poll panel’s notices.