BJP delegations seeks President's intervention in Delhi government's functioning

A BJP delegation on Saturday met President Ram Nath Kovind and sought his intervention into the functioning of AAP-led Delhi government which it dubbed "unconstitutional and undemocratic".

"As an opposition party, it is our primary responsibility to question the government and ensure that it remains accountable to the public. Keeping public interest in view and acting as vigilant opposition, we seek your kind intervention in the unconstitutional and undemocratic functioning of Delhi government," the party said in its memorandum submitted to the President.

The delegation led by Leader of Opposition in Delhi assembly Vijender Gupta said the Additional Solicitor General of India has held the house committees of the Delhi Assembly like special inquiry committees (SICs) and the department related standing committees (DRSCs) as illegal.

"It is clear that these committees are nothing but abuse of power and have been set up in contravention of the constitutional provisions and also the doctrine of separation of powers of the deliberative and executive wings of the government," the memorandum said citing observations of the government law officer.

The memorandum said the Additional Solicitor General also opined that "these committees are taking over the executive, judicial and investigative functioning of the Delhi government" and have been illegally constituted behind the facade that the work and claims made by officers need to be verified on behalf of public representatives.

"The fact is that these committees have been constituted primarily to settle score with senior IAS, DANICS, allied services and other officers of Delhi government and the three MCDs. The officers are being made to fall in line through humiliation, grilling and questioning in the house panels," Gupta said in a statement.

The delegation, which included the other BJP legislators O.P. Sharma, Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Jagdish Pradhan, urged the President to intervene in the matter and advise the city government to follow constitutional provisions.

--IANS

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