Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena with Delhi CM Atishi
Credit: PTI File Photo
New Delhi: The fight between Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena and the AAP intensified on Monday with the former finding fault with Arvind Kejriwal describing Atishi as a “temporary or stopgap” Chief Minister as “highly objectionable” and Atishi returning fire by calling him a “BJP proxy” who should “let go off petty politics”.
The latest confrontation comes days after Saxena ordered multiple probes into AAP workers collecting applications for two proposed schemes and just days before the Election Commission is set to announce the schedule for Delhi elections.
In his letter to Atishi, the LG said, "a few days ago, when your predecessor, Arvind Kejriwal, publicly declared you as a temporary or stopgap chief minister in the media, I found this highly objectionable, and I was hurt by it. This was not only an insult to you but also to the president of India, and to me, in my capacity as her representative."
He also claimed the responsibility for failures in completing various pending works would be attributed to Atishi after her own party's leader declared her as "stopgap", especially under the circumstances under which she was made the Chief Minister.
Referring to the “unauthorised” announcements made by Kejriwal on 'Mahila Samman Yojana' and 'Sanjeevini Scheme' in her presence, he said it tarnished the dignity of the office of the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers.
In a scathing attack Atishi said, his “obstruction” of the ‘Mahila Samman Yojana’ was “a clear testimony of politicisation” of the LG's office and she as a woman was personally anguished by his recent steps to “malign and create” hurdles for its implementation.
“The LG's office is now working as a proxy of the BJP and, in its enthusiasm to protect the interest of the party, causing damage to the lives of ordinary Delhites,” she alleged, as the relationship between the elected government and the LG further soured.
Calling Kejriwal "Delhi's tallest leader" who had been working relentlessly for Delhi, she said they were taking his legacy forward.
While Saxena praised Atishi for “actually performing” the duties of the Chief Minister as Kejriwal never held any portfolio, Atishi attacked the LG saying his responsibility was to maintain law and order and keep Delhiites safe but he “miserably failed to do the one job” of maintaining law and order that he was “directly responsible and mandated to do”.
Expressing hope that he would let go of the “baggage of politics” that “ailed” him, she also said he “illegally” gave police protection to a former BJP MP who was allegedly distributing money to lure voters.
Saxena said the public explanation given by Kejriwal regarding the temporary nature of Atishi’s position has no constitutional provision and is a “flagrant disregard for the democratic spirit and values” enshrined in the Constitution.
He also alleged that Kejriwal had been making public statements without any basis or facts, in reference to the AAP chief's claim of the Transport Department and other agencies investigating Atishi.
"This is not only false but such statements also imply that you are unaware of the activities of the departments working under you. In fact, it has now come to light through newspapers that the additional chief secretary of the transport department has written to inform you that neither any such action is being taken by their department or the vigilance department, nor has there ever been any discussion about it," he said.
"As LG, I am concerned about this level of public discourse and, at the same time, hurt by the conversation that portrays the full-time chief minister of my government as a temporary one," he said.