Kejriwal defends himself, blames PM Modi for rejection of 'dual office bill'

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday defended himself by blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi for withholding the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's bill exempting 21 parliamentary secretaries from their disqualification as MLAs because of the illegality of holding two offices of profit at once.

Kejriwal, said the Prime Minister follows the agenda of 'not working, neither allowing anyone to work'.

"None of the MLAs took a single penny, vehicle or bungalow. Every MLA was working for free but Modiji says: Everyone stay at home, no one will work," Kejriwal said in a tweet.

"I had deputed one MLA each for electricity, water, hospital and school. but Modi ji says 'neither I will work, nor allow anyone to'," he added.

"One MLA was spending his own petrol to visit hospitals. What wrong was he doing? Modi ji has made him sit in the house," he said.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's bill to exempt 21 parliamentary secretaries from their disqualification as MLAs because of the illegality of holding two offices of profit at the same time , received a major setback today as President Pranab Mukherjee withheld the bill.

An organisation called the Rashtriya Mukti Morcha had petitioned the Delhi High Court, contending that these 21 legislators enjoy the status and perks of ministers including office space and official cars, which is a misuse of the taxpayer's money.

The PIL alleges that these appointments are "unconstitutional, illegal and without jurisdiction" and should be cancelled, pointing that the Delhi Government can have a maximum of seven ministers.

It also contends that along with seven ministers in Kejriwal's Cabinet, these 21 people with minister status exceed that limit.

The petition argues that the Chief Minister has "no power, jurisdiction or authority" to administer oath of office to the Parliamentary Secretaries.

A petition has alleged that 21 legislators occupied offices of profit in violation of the Constitution.