Kejriwal writes to Rajnath, takes on Modi

In a fresh salvo against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday urged Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to name consultants hired by the Modi government since 2014.

In a hard-hitting response after the home ministry sought information about officials and consultants with the Delhi government, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader hoped similar facts were also being sought from other states.

"You have sought to know the number of IAS posts now held by other officers. As per my knowledge, there won't be more than two or three such officers.

"I am confident that the central government would have also asked for this information from N. Chandrababu Naidu, Vasundhara Raje, Devendra Fadnavis and Shivraj Singh Chouhan as well," Kejriwal wrote in a letter.

The AAP leader said legal experts had told him the central government had no authority to seek this information from him.

Kejriwal remarked sarcastically that he was happy Modi was taking so much interest in the affairs of the Delhi government.

"The prime minister spends much of his time abroad. But when he is in India, much of his time is consumed on matters related to the Delhi government."

Kejriwal then sought information about the number of consultants hired by the Modi government in the last two years.

He asked Rajnath Singh to tell him how many officers not from the IAS held posts meant for IAS officers in Uttar Pradesh when he (Rajnath Singh) was its chief minister.

Kejriwal's letter came in response to a home ministry letter of May seeking details from the Delhi government about officers on deputation.

Kejriwal also asked Rajnath Singh to detail the steps taken by the central government to contain what he said was the deteriorating law and order situation in Delhi.

He said he was "worried" over rising incidents of crime in the capital.

"Day-by-day, incidents of rape are increasing. The law and order situation has been badly hit... There is jungle raj... As Chief Minister, I am worried.

"I request you to tell me what steps have been taken by the central government and the Lt. Governor to contain the situation."

He asked Rajnath Singh to dedicate at least an hour every day on issues related to law and order in Delhi -- till such time Delhi Police was made accountable to the elected government.

Earlier in the day, AAP leader Sanjay Singh accused Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung of "spying for the PMO" and alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wanted to destabilize the Delhi government.

Kejriwal also reiterated the claims made by Sanjay Singh.

"Shocking! LG snooping on CM (and) Ministers," Kejriwal tweeted.

The remarks by the AAP leaders came after a published report said that Jung had complained to Nripendra Misra, Principal Secretary to Modi, that a railway officer was found working with the Delhi government while on study leave from his department.

Sources at the LG office, however, refuted AAP's allegation of LG 'spying for PMO' and said that LG had not sought the information about the railway official.

"LG office in February received a document which stated that a railway official S.K. Nagarwal was found working with the Delhi government while on study leave," the source told IANS adding, "Since service matters are the domain of the LG and he (Nagarwal) being a central government employee, LG was bound to tell the central government about this."

Because of the national capital's unique status, Delhi Police reports to the central government, not to the government headed by Kejriwal.

Kejriwal and his government have been feuding with the central government since taking power in February 2015 over issues of governance.

Kejriwal is pushing for full statehood for Delhi.

--IANS

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