)
Another confrontation is building up between the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government and Delhi Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) Najeeb Jung, this time over the government’s appointment of Swati Maliwal as the new chief of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW).
Within hours of the announcement of her appointment, Jung wrote to the government that its jurisdiction did not extend to such appointments, setting the stage for another clash between the Delhi government and the Union home ministry-appointed L-G.
Later in the day, Maliwal said the L-G had asked her to vacate her office. Earlier in the day, she said she and the party had “the highest respect for the L-G and would do whatever he directed to do.”
The Delhi government has complained repeatedly its powers are being encroached upon by the central government. But, Congress leaders say the clash stems from the Delhi government’s inclination towards controversies.
ALSO READ: Jung nullifies Swati Maliwal's appointment as DCW chief
“When we were in power, we appointed many, to important posts. But we always kept the L-G in the loop, sending files to him. Never did any file come back, telling us we couldn’t proceed. If the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) really wants to work, it should do its work instead of creating clashes and fighting with everybody to get sympathy from voters,” said Ajay Maken, Congress leader from Delhi.
On Wednesday, AAP’s Delhi secretary Dilip K Pandey said a police bus tried to run him down as the party was protesting the killing of a young woman by a stalker in broad daylight.
The party has made safety of women a signature programme, but in the absence of control over the police, it claims it is unable to prevent attacks on women.
It is likely this is part of a movement to launch a referendum on the status of Delhi, whether residents want it to be a full-fledged state or are content with the limited powers an elected government has. What the AAP campaign has actually succeeded in doing is restoring the relevance of Najeeb Jung, who was actually appointed by the previous United Progressive Alliance government, and is one of the few governors to have been retained by the present government.
Within hours of the announcement of her appointment, Jung wrote to the government that its jurisdiction did not extend to such appointments, setting the stage for another clash between the Delhi government and the Union home ministry-appointed L-G.
Later in the day, Maliwal said the L-G had asked her to vacate her office. Earlier in the day, she said she and the party had “the highest respect for the L-G and would do whatever he directed to do.”
The Delhi government has complained repeatedly its powers are being encroached upon by the central government. But, Congress leaders say the clash stems from the Delhi government’s inclination towards controversies.
ALSO READ: Jung nullifies Swati Maliwal's appointment as DCW chief
“When we were in power, we appointed many, to important posts. But we always kept the L-G in the loop, sending files to him. Never did any file come back, telling us we couldn’t proceed. If the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) really wants to work, it should do its work instead of creating clashes and fighting with everybody to get sympathy from voters,” said Ajay Maken, Congress leader from Delhi.
On Wednesday, AAP’s Delhi secretary Dilip K Pandey said a police bus tried to run him down as the party was protesting the killing of a young woman by a stalker in broad daylight.
The party has made safety of women a signature programme, but in the absence of control over the police, it claims it is unable to prevent attacks on women.
It is likely this is part of a movement to launch a referendum on the status of Delhi, whether residents want it to be a full-fledged state or are content with the limited powers an elected government has. What the AAP campaign has actually succeeded in doing is restoring the relevance of Najeeb Jung, who was actually appointed by the previous United Progressive Alliance government, and is one of the few governors to have been retained by the present government.
