Niti Aayog refutes Kejri's allegation against Delhi LG

Niti Aayog on Sunday denied Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's allegations that Lt Governor Anil Baijal replaced him at its fourth Governing Council meeting.

“There was no question of Lt Governor attending the meeting. He was neither called nor did he attend,” Niti Aayog's Vice Chairman told reporters here after the Governing Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He said only the chief ministers are entitled to attend the meeting and no representatives can do so as it is the highest Governing Council meeting chaired by the prime minister.

Aayog's CEO Amitabh Kant said, “There was no response from the Delhi CM. His nameplate was present till the last moment. It is the highest Governing Council meeting and only the CMs are authorised to attend”.

The council, apex body of Niti Aayog, includes all chief ministers, lieutenant governors of union territories, several union ministers and senior government officials.

Kejriwal, at the start of the meeting, had tweeted, “under which provision of the constitution does LG have powers to replace the chief minister. I have not authorised him to go there”.

Kant was quick to retort, “It is totally incorrect. Lt Governor is not present at the fourth meeting of Governing Council”.