Delhi BJP leaders meet Prez, demand sacking of Dikshit

Delhi BJP leaders today met President Pranab Mukherjee and demanded dismissal of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in the wake of the Lokayukta indicting her for allegedly misusing public funds on an advertisement campaign ahead of assembly polls in 2008.
Delhi BJP MLAs, led by V K Malhotra, submitted a memorandum to Mukherjee requesting him to direct Dikshit to resign immediately or dismiss her government in view of the Lokayukta order against her.
Lokayukta Justice Manmohan Sarin last week had held Dikshit guilty of allegedly misusing public funds on an advertisement campaign to get political mileage ahead of last assembly polls and recommended recovery of Rs 11 crore either from her or the Congress party.

"The Chief Minister must be removed as Lokayukta had held her guilty in a serious matter," Malhotra said after meeting the President. The opposition also alleged that the Delhi government was again misusig public funds by putting up hoarding in the city ahead of assembly polls later this year.
Justice Sarin had recommended to Mukherjee to administer "caution" to Dikshit for the alleged misuse of public funds for a series of advertisements carried out in print and outdoor media in 2007-08 with punchline 'Delhi is changing'.
In the memorandum, the BJP said the Lokayukta had indicted Dikshit and her government on a number of "serious matters" earlier also but no action has been taken against them so far.

"The Delhi Lokayukta can only send recommendation to the President. On recommendation of the Lokayukta, the President seeks opinion of the Home Ministry and the Home Ministry sends back the queries to Delhi Government.
"And ultimately no action is taken against the guilty. Even the Lokayukta has said that the President has not been advised correctly," Malhotra said adding the the institution of the Lokayukta is being made "redundant" in Delhi.
Delhi BJP Chief Vijay Goel said following the Lokayukta order against Dikshit, Delhi government should immediately take off all its hoardings in the city.