The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Conspiracy being hatched to topple govt in Delhi: Atishi hits out at BJP
Atishi writes to chief secy over water issues
TERMING IT “a big political conspiracy” hatched by the BJP, senior AAP leader and Delhi minister Atishi on Friday accused the Central government, led by the party, of seeking to impose the President’s rule in the Capital.
Atishi said the “illegal, unconstitutional” move, which would be against the mandate of the Delhi residents, was a bid by the BJP to topple the “popular government of Arvind Kejriwal” since it was aware that it was not going to win the upcoming polls.
Hitting back, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva sought to argue that the allegation stemmed from “the Delhi High Court’s rebuke” when it was, earlier this week, hearing a plea against the investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy case which has landed the first-tier of the AAP, including its convener Kejriwal, behind bars.
“We have come to know from reliable sources that in the coming few days, the Central government ruled by the BJP is going to impose the President’s rule in Delhi. Many signs of this have been visible for the last few days,” she alleged.
“The posting of IAS officers is controlled by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). But for the last several months, no senior IAS officer has been posted in Delhi despite many posts lying vacant in various Delhi government departments... the L-G has been repeatedly writing letters regarding the Delhi governance to the MHA over the last week, without any reason,” she said.
On the Model Code of Conduct being in force, she alleged, bureaucrats posted in Delhi government departments had stopped attending meetings, no matter how important the issue. “The last thing we saw how a 20-year-old case was raked up to sack the personal secretary of the Delhi CM... all these signs show that a huge conspiracy is taking place. There is a conspiracy to topple the Delhi government, Arvind Kejriwal’s government, and to impose President’s rule in Delhi,” she alleged.
This, she added, was because the BJP knew that no matter how hard it tried, it cannot defeat Kejriwal in Delhi — as witnessed in the 2013 elections, 2015 elections, 2020 Delhi Assembly elections, and 2022 MCD elections.
Another reason for the alleged conspiracy against Kejriwal’s government, she alleged, was the work done by it ranging from providing free electricity round the clock, free water, good government schools to children, free treatment in mohalla clinics, free bus travel to women and free pilgrimage to the elderly among others. “These people know that no matter how hard they try, they will not be able to implement such policies in any of their (BJP ruled) states,
Praveen Khanna leave alone Delhi... to stop these, a political conspiracy is being hatched to stop women in Delhi from getting Rs 1,000 per month (financial aid),” she said. “Let me warn BJP... imposing President’s rule in Delhi will be illegal, unconstitutional, and against the mandate of the Delhi residents. They have given a clear mandate to Kejriwal ji, to AAP.”
Responding to this, Sachdeva said it was surprising how the “fear of President’s rule is haunting the 62-MLA party” which holds a majority in the Delhi Legislative Assembly. “Ms Atishi should explain whether a majority of her party MLAS are leaving because of which the government fears losing the majority...”
New Delhi: Water Minister Atishi has written to the Chief Secretary, asking that the issue of water shortage in parts of South Delhi be addressed soon.
The minister has asked the Chief Secretary to ensure that the 5 MGD (million gallons per day) of treated water, that has been allocated to Chhatarpur underground reservoir, reaches there regularly, and that the boring and commissioning of tubewells be done within one week.
In her communication, the minister has written that complaints of“serious water shortage” were received from areas including Aya Nagar, Maidan Garhi, Sambhav Camp, Bapu Camp, Mandi, Sanjay Colony, Bhatti Mines, Indira Enclave, and Freedom Fighters Enclave. “This problem has intensified with the early onset of summer in Delhi. If this issue is not resolved immediately, there will be a crisis like situation in the area ...,” she said.