Centre has “betrayed the people of Delhi”, says Kejriwal after Centre backs up Lt. Governor

By NewsGram Staff Writer

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the Centre of betraying the people of Delhi by siding with the Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung. The Chief Minister today addressed the media after the Centre issued a notification that makes it clear that Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung has the power to post and transfer officials.

According to the notice, the lieutenant governor was not bound to consult Delhi's council of ministers. In a released statement, the Centre said, "The Lieutenant Governor, "may, in his discretion, obtain the views of the Chief Minister… wherever he deems it appropriate".

Raising an objection against the Centre's notification, Kejriwal in his address accused the Modi government of imposing their rule through Najeeb Jung, as he stated, "Lieutenant Governor is just the face, Mr Jung has no control, the orders come from the top", adding, "Lt Governor is the Viceroy and the PMO is London. All orders come from the PMO".

"Modi government has completed one year and they have given this notification to the people of Delhi as a gift. They are trying to run the Delhi government with three MLAs via the back door. We want to ask Narendra Modi government who are they trying to save".

Kejriwal also said that this move was to create a hindrance in AAP government's attempt to eradicate corruption. He was reported by NDTV as stating, "Probably the AAP government is one of the cleanest governments Delhi has ever seen".

"We've cracked down on the transfer-posting industry. Earlier there was a lot of money changing hands for transfers but now that has ended under AAP."

"They are rattled by the action taken by us against corrupt officers" he added, referring to the Central government.