Kejriwal to keep tab on Gamlin

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday accused senior bureaucrat Shakuntala Gamlin, appointed acting chief secretary by the Lt Governor, of favouring power companies and claimed that she wanted to trick the government into signing documents which would give Rs 11,000 crore to these firms.

At his 'Auto Samwaad' public meeting in north Delhi's Burari, Kejriwal also alleged that the Narendra Modi government wanted to make the Aam Aadmi Party dispensation "fail".

"When our government was formed, she came to our power minister to sign a letter, saying Reliance-owned power companies have applied for a loan of Rs 11,000 crore. She wanted the minister to sign the document and said it was just a formality.

"When our minister got this letter checked, it turned out to be a guarantee letter. If Reliance-owned power companies failed to pay the loan, the burden would come on the people and the rates in Delhi would have increased two-three fold," he said. Kejriwal said Gamlin was appointed despite objections raised by his government.

"We opposed the appointment but Modi's government appointed her CS. We have been struggling for four days, but Modi's government wanted to make Delhi's government fail," he alleged.

He added his government would keep a tab on Gamlin's work as acting Chief Secretary for the next 10 days and would ensure every file going to the Chief Secretary's office passes through the Chief Minister's Office.

"It raises suspicions that they (BJP-led central government) will do something wrong in 10 days but I assure you that I will keep a tab on her (Gamlin) and every file will go through me," he said.