Congress takes on Kejriwal govt over Lokayukta vacancy

The party also slammed AAP over its reported demand for referendum on full statehood for Delhi

Congress today staged a protest here demanding immediate appointment of Lokayukta by AAP Government in Delhi and filed a complaint with the anti-graft ombudsmen seeking action against legislators of the ruling party, including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The Lokayukta post has been lying vacant since November 2013.

Congress also slammed AAP over its reported demand for referendum on full statehood for Delhi and challenged it to leave Government, saying it will show Arvind Kejriwal-led party how to run administration while staying within the existing Constitutional set up.

Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken asked why Kejriwal had not proposed referendum on issues of increasing salaries of MLAs and hiking budget for his publicity campaign.

"Unfortunately, the post of Lokayukta is lying vacant in Delhi since November 2013. And unfortunately for past five months, there is a government of that party which would talk about Janlokpal. Now they (Lokayukta and Lokpal) are nowhere in sight.

"Two sessions of assembly passed, but there is no trace of the Act. Last time, they (AAP) ran away in 49 days, saying they were not allowed to enact Janlokpal. Now 150 days have passed, where is the Lokpal? Old Lokayukta too is not appointed yet," Ajay Maken told reporters here.

Maken also filed a petition against the ruling party MLAs before a vacant chair in a symbolic gesture during the protest and proceeded to make complaint against some AAP legislators in the office of Lokayuktar.

"We gave petition (to the vacant chair) in a symbolic manner. Kejriwal ji, you said lot of things about Lokpal and Lokayukta, but where are they?

"We are going to file petition in Lokayukta office against 28 MLAs including . We hope Lokayukta is appointed soon and a probe is carried out," he said.

Asked about Kejriwal seeking referendum on statehood, Maken alleged that the AAP leader keeps looking for excuses to pick up fights. He suggested Kejriwal should "stop fighting and do something for Delhi's people".

"Kejriwal is talking about increasing salaries of his MLAs. Did he call for a referendum in that case? Did Kejriwal seek referendum for increasing budget for his publicity campaign from Rs 24 crore to Rs 526 crore? Did he seek referendum before recruiting AAP men on government posts? He wants referendum to pick up fights," Maken said.

Scores of Congress workers participated in the protest rally. They burnt an effigy and shouted slogan against the ruling party.

Some of the protesters broke barricades, after which police used water cannon to disperse them.