Democracy under attack from Modi govt: Sisodia

Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today said that democracy in the country is "under attack" from the BJP-led central government.
Sisodia accused the Centre of "harassing" officers and said Jung has set up a probe into projects of mohalla clinics and construction of school rooms.
He alleged the LG's office was "hatching conspiracy" to send officers engaged in these projects to jail. He alleged these officers are being threatened by the Lt Governor.
Defending the government's decision to call a one-day Special Session of Delhi Assembly, the Deputy CM said, "As the Centre is trying to demolish 105 mohalla clinics, newly-constructed school rooms and conspiracy is being hatched against officers engaged in these both projects, the government had to call the Special Session," Sisodia said while responding a discussion on alleged attempt to derail governance by Centre in Delhi.

The minister said that the government's works including construction of mohalla clinics and construction of new school rooms have come to a standstill due to officers being terrorized by the LG office.
He also claimed that when the government was going to challenge the Delhi High Court order, which last month stamped the primacy of Lt Governor in the administration, in the Supreme Court, officers had refused to sign petitions to be filed in the apex court and therefore, he had to sign the petition.

He said that the Centre is closely monitoring the functioning of Delhi government and creating hurdles.

Citing the cases of two IAS officers -- CM's principal secretary Rajendra Kumar and former Urban Development secretary Chetan Sanghi, the Deputy CM claimed that when officers is seen roaming with any minister, LG office summoned them and asked they have two models of Kumar and Sanghi.
Kumar had recently been arrested by CBI in connection with graft charges while Chetan Sanghi had found himself in trouble after a committee headed by him had found some alleged irregularities in Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA). Sanghi, who was also facing probe, had also been transferred to the Centre.
Participating in the discussion, Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain said that in the last one month, works pertaining to mohalla clinics have come to a standstill.

He said that LG-appointed three Secretaries of departments have not come to meet him after taking charge as LG has threatened them not to cooperate the Aam Aam Aadmi Party government.
"The Centre has turned government in Delhi into a joke. The Centre is trying to demolish all democratic system in Delhi. Officers, who are looking after key projects, have been transfered by the LG," he said.
Participating in the discussion, Opposition leader Vijender Gupta said that Delhi government doesn't believe in democracy.
"LG has recenctly notified appointing authority. As per the order, LG can only transfer IAS and DANICS. There are over l lakh employees. Except 1,000 officers, Delhi government have command over rest of the employees.

"Government is runnig away from its responsbility," Gupta said.