Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: A week after two departments distanced themselves from poll promises for women and elderly announced by AAP, Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has asked police to take action against party workers organising camps for “fraudulent” enrolment for schemes, setting stage for another round of confrontation ahead of Assembly polls.
As Saxena also directed the Delhi Chief Secretary to inform the Election Commission about the AAP’s activities on the eve of elections, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal hit back asking him why he has not taken action against a BJP leader who was seen distributing money for votes. He claimed the BJP has made its intention clear that it will block AAP’s pro-people measures.
The L-G has made his decision on the basis of a complaint filed by Congress' Sandeep Dikshit who objected to AAP workers collecting details and signatures of women in the guise of registration for the scheme of providing Rs 1,000 per month, which is promised to be increased to Rs 2,100 after elections.
In his letter, Saxena's Principal Secretary said the L-G wants the Chief Secretary to get an inquiry conducted through Divisional Commissioner on collection of personal details and forms by non-government people.
The Police Commissioner has been directed to take action as per law against those breaching the privacy of “gullible citizens” by collecting personal details in the garb of providing benefits. The Commissioner should task Deputy Commissioners of Police to take action on individuals organising camps for “fraudulent” enrolment for schemes.
At a press conference, Kejriwal claimed that through the L-G’s directive, the BJP has made its intentions very clear that it would not want to allow the scheme to provide money to women and free treatment for elderly.
“It is in fact BJP’s manifesto. They want to shut free power, free water, free treatment and everything. If you wrongly vote for BJP, you will have to leave Delhi. Delhi won’t be livable,” he warned.
He said the moment AAP started registration, the BJP has lost sleep and now they want to stop the camps set up for enrolment. “Now a fake investigation is ordered. Why do they want to stop registration? Why is the L-G not taking action when a BJP leader is openly distributing money?” he said, apparently referring to allegations against former MP Parvesh Verma.
"The situation of BJP is such that they are pleading in front of the Congress to save them. BJP itself did not have the courage to complain but got Sandeep Dikshit to complain. Both of them want to stop AAP. I am ready to go to jail again for you," Kejriwal said.
In an unprecedented move last week, the Department of Women and Child Development and Health and Family Welfare Department had issued public notices, distancing themselves from the ruling AAP's promised schemes for women and the elderly. It said no such schemes exist and collection of details was “fraudulent and without any authority”.