Rajnath Singh Assured AAP Chief over LG Tussle

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met Home Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss the new impasse between the Delhi government and the Lieutenant Governor over the number of subjects on which the L-G’s approval is to be required.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met Home Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss the new impasse between the Delhi government and the Lieutenant Governor over the number of subjects on which the L-G’s approval is to be required.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting with the Home Minister, Kejriwal said, “We told him that L-G and the Centre are interpreting the order in a strange manner. They say that we will obey half the order.”

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief said that while the Supreme Court order clearly states that the concurrence of the L-G is not required for decisions taken in subjects other than Police, Land and Law-Order, the L-G is not obeying this order.

“They say that when Division Bench issues its judgment, we will obey. How can you say that you will obey half of the judgment of the Constitution Bench and half of the Division Bench? In this way they will even hold up the SC like they did the Delhi govt,” said Kejriwal.

The CM added that the Home Minister heard the concerns of the Delhi government and assured that he will discuss the matter with his officers.

On 4 July, the Supreme Court ruled that position of the Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi was not that of a Governor but an administrator only “in a limited sense”.

Two days later, the CM alleged that the Ministry of Home Affairs has told Baijal to ignore the prt of the Supreme Court order which limits the L-G’s power to just three areas.

“MHA has advised LG to ignore that part of SC order, which restricts LG’s powers to only 3 subjects. V dangerous that central govt advising LG not to follow Hon’ble SC’s orders,” alleged Kejriwal on Twitter on 6 July.

“Have sought time from Sh Rajnath Singh ji to urge him to follow Hon’ble SC’s orders,” he added.