Centre fulfilled responsibility: Jaitley on notification to Delhi government

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said the union home ministry fulfilled its constitutional responsibility by issuing notification that Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung would be the final say in posting and transfer of Delhi government officials.

"The notification was issued so that the offices don't get locked. Due to confusion, offices got locked. Hence, the home ministry has fulfilled its constitutional responsibility," Jaitley said at a press conference here.

Delhi's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government protested after the central government on Friday issued a notification giving Jung the final say in posting and transfer.

The union home ministry issued the notification, saying public order, land, police and services will be under the purview of the Lt. Governor.

The order was issued following an ongoing tussle between the AAP government and Jung over the appointment and transfer of bureaucrats.

Taking a dig at the AAP government, Jaitley said the people of Delhi were waiting for the past 100 days that the city government was going to show some instances of good administration, remaining within its constitutional rights.

Asked whether the central government was willing to give full statehood to Delhi, he said: "Full statehood can be given to Delhi only when there is a consensus in the country over the issue. Till then, the territorial government is not entitled to get the rights of full statehood."