Why has AAP government not appointed Lokayukta: Maken

Congress leader Ajay Maken on Friday criticised the Aam Aadmi Party government for not being able to fill the Lokayukta post, a state anti-corruption body, which has been lying vacant since 2013.

Addressing a press conference here, the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) chief said: "Lokayukta should have probed into the irregularities in the government with regard to fake degrees of MLAs, misuse of public money to pay salaries to volunteers."

"Lokayukta's post was vacant from 2013 - 2014 as well when our government was not in power. Why didn't the Centre appoint a Lokayukta then? We want to appoint a Lokpal in Delhi. And for that the Lokpal Bill needs to be passed," said an AAP leader who did not want to be identified.

Maken said the DPCC on Monday will submit a comprehensive petition exposing "corruption, nepotism and penal offences" against 29 MLAs and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at the vacant Lokayukta office by putting an empty chair there in a symbolic protest.

"The Aam Aadmi Party had promised to represent the aam aadmi (common man), but considering the party's 'misuse' of public money to pay crores of rupees of salaries to party officials, they have been functioning like VVIPs," Maken added.

Congress workers would come out on the streets and intensify their agitation if the Lokayukta post is not filled immediately, Maken said.

Maken also criticised Kejriwal for "shielding" the MLAs with fake degrees. DPCC has collected substantial evidence against several MLAs of AAP who have misled the electorate about their educational qualifications, he added.

The Congress leader also said that his party on Monday will march towards the Lokayukta office with the petition demanding action against 21 AAP appointed Parliament Secretaries, 6 MLAs with fake degrees and three others with criminal cases registered against them, and also against Kejriwal.