MHA notification: Kejriwal says BJP trying to run Delhi through backdoor

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday accused the NDA Government at the Centre of trying to run Delhi through the backdoor, hours after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a notification backing Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung in his tussle over power sharing with the AAP Government.

"Narendra Modi ji with his three MLAs is trying to run the government of Delhi through the backdoor. I want to ask Modi ji, who is he trying to protect through this notification?"Kejriwal said at a media briefing here.

"I am not in a 'jung' with Governor Jung, we are simply fighting corruption. Every order comes from above, Mr Jung is just the face," he added.

"Before independence, the Queen of England used to send notifications to the Viceroy here. Now, Jung Sahab is the Viceroy and PMO is London," Kejriwal further said.

The Ministry of Home Ministry (MHA) issued a notification earlier today to clarify distribution of powers between the Lieutenant Governor's office and the office of the Delhi Chief Minister, saying the former has primacy in postings and transfers of officers belonging to Central services.

The notification elicited a strong response from Kejriwal on twitter, who said it was indicative of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) nervousness about the Aam Aadmi Party's anti-corruption efforts.

His deputy, Manish Sisodia, also criticised the notification, terming it as an attempt to "save the transfer-posting industry being run in Delhi".