Refused assent to bill, Kejriwal trains guns at PM

With the President refusing assent to a bill that protects 21 AAP MLAs, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of indulging in political vendetta and said the BJP is "scared" of AAP and unable to digest its defeat in Delhi.
In a jolt to the AAP government, President Pranab Mukherjee has refused to give assent to a legislation that protects 21 party MLAs, who have been appointed Parliamentary Secretaries, and face the prospect of disqualification.
"We have given additional responsibilities to our MLAs but they are working for free. Our notification says that they are not entitled to any remuneration, perks, facilities or services from the government," Kejriwal told reporters.

"If they are working for free, what is troubling Modiji? If all people are disqualified and made to sit at home, what will they (Centre) derive from this. Modiji hasn't been able to digest defeat in Delhi and that is why they are doing all this to not let us work," he added.
The Chief Minister further questioned why Parliamentary Secretaries of other states have not been disqualified.
"There are Parliamentary Secretaries in Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, West Bengal and across the country. Those in Punjab get Rs 1 lakh per month, car and bungalow as well. But they have not been disqualified. Why only Delhi? Because he (Modi) is scared of Aam Aadmi Party," he said.

Asked about the Prime Minister's role in the process as the bill has been turned down by the President and not him, Kejriwal said, "President does not take any decision. Probably the file doesn't even go to him. The decision is taken by the government and Home Ministry decided this".

Petitions have been filed with the President seeking disqualification of these MLAs on the ground that they occupied office of profit violating constitutional provisions.
Acting as a quasi judicial body, the Election Commission to whom the President referred the issue, had sought replies of the MLAs.
The Delhi Government had sought an amendment to the Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1997.

Through the Bill, the AAP government wanted "retrospective" exemption for the parliamentary secretaries from disqualification provisions.
The Bill was forwarded by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung to the Centre, which in turn was sent to the President with its comments.
After examining the issue, the President has not given his assent to the Bill, official sources said today.
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AAP's chief spokesperson Sanjay Singh said the Centre was giving a "step-motherly" treatment to the Delhi government when states like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Nagaland and Chhattisgarh had posts of parliamentary secretaries with "pecuniary" benefits.
Attacking BJP, Singh said it was "misleading" the nation by saying the President has refused to give nod to the bill.

"Why drag the President into the controversy? The President has to act as per the advice of the Centre. It's a constitutional post. So why blame the President? BJP should instead say the Narendra Modi government has created an impediment," Singh said, adding that over 19 bills passed by the Delhi Assembly are awaiting the President's assent.
He said if the Prime Minister was so "hell bent" on crushing AAP, then it should get the party derecognised.
Party leader Ashutosh said the parliamentary secretaries of the Delhi government do not enjoy any "pecuniary" benefits like in the NDA-ruled states.
"Where is the question of office of profit if there is no money involved? MLAs were visiting hospitals, schools spending their own petrol day and night. Is it a crime?" he asked.

Ashutosh said that in 2006, 46 posts had been "retrospectively" removed from the list of office of profit in Lok Sabha.
"Narendra Modi is scared only of AAP and Arvind Kejriwal. He has not been able to digest the defeat in the Delhi Assembly polls. What enmity does the PM have with the people of Delhi. He wants to spread panic and destabilize the AAP government," he alleged.
The country is facing problems like farmers' suicide and the drug menace in Punjab. The Prime Minister, "who is out of country half the time", should deal with the problems at hand rather than target the Delhi government, he said.

Asked about AAP's next move, Ashutosh said the party will do what is "legally and constitutionally" required as the matter is pending with the Election Commission.
"Even if the Bill is rejected, it doesn't mean that the 21 MLAs are in trouble as they were not appointed as per this Bill," AAP leader Raghav Chadha said.