Kejriwal fumes as L-G red-flags CM’s pilgrimage scheme

NEWDELHI: Delhi’s revenue minister Kailash Gahlot said on Friday Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal had “objected” to the government’s pilgrimage sponsorship scheme proposed in this year’s budget, triggering a fresh exchange of allegations between the two sides. The disclosure prompted chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to accuse the L-G of “obstructing” every AAP project.

“Now L-G objects to Tirath Yatra Yojana! L-G wants it to be restricted to BPL. L-G forgets that many children do not support their old parents. They would be happy to receive government’s support. And every government facility should not be restricted only to BPL (sic),” Gahlot tweeted.

Responding to Gahlot’s statement, the L-G’s office said the minister’s allegation was wrong. “It is reiterated that a reasonable income criteria has been advised on the same lines as other states and not BPL (as quoted by the minister) so that scarce government funds are used for the benefit of the needy,” a spokesperson of the L-G said, adding that the file was returned with several observations on March 8 with an invitation to Gahlot to discuss the matter personally with Baijal.

“I feel very sad that L-G is practically obstructing every scheme and every project of Delhi government. How do we run the government like this? My appeal to BJP - Don’t obstruct our work. I challenge your governments in other states to compete with us in work (sic),” Kejriwal said on Twitter.

The scheme, announced in the Delhi’s 2018-19 budget last week, proposes to send senior citizens who are bona-fide residents of Delhi on pilgrimage for free.