'Arvind-Arvinder alliance blunts anti-graft action'

Alleging a nexus between Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely, the BJP legislature party chief Harsh Vardhan said the “Arvind-Arvinder alliance” had pushed an anti-corruption drive out of Delhi government’s agenda.

He questioned why Kejriwal, who had filed an FIR on alleged corruption in 2010 CWG in Delhi, was not acting against former chief minister Sheila Dikshit of the Congress.
Raising doubts about an informal arrangement between the government and the Congress party to go slow on fight against corruption, Harsh Vardhan said: “The Arvind-Arvinder alliance has overshadowed the corruption agenda.”

The BJP leader was referring to the chief minister and the Delhi Congress by their first names.

The minority Aam Aadmi Party government headed by Kejriwal is supported by Congress in the Delhi Assembly from outside.

“Kejriwal wants me to give evidence on corruption. I have already brought on record our party’s charge sheet against the previous government, still he needs more evidence,” said Harsh Vardhan, reacting to Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung’s address to the Assembly on Monday.

Kejriwal surely would have proof with himself as he filed the FIR at Parliament Street police station in November 2010 on the CWG scam, he said.

“I expected Kejriwal to act on corruption in the CWG with the same alacrity with which he made announcements on water and power within 48 hours of taking oath but this has not happened,” he said.

He said Jung’s address had no details of the government’s plan to fight corruption and punish the previous government’s tainted minister.

“The only reference related to corruption in the speech was that of Jan Lokpal Bill, which Kejriwal has talked about earlier,” said Harsh Vardhan.

The BJP leader said expectations of the people had got a setback after the Lieutenant Governor’s speech which did not suggest concrete steps for punishing the guilty.

‘No vital issues’

He said the Kejriwal government failed to incorporate vital issues in the lieutenant governor’s speech, which is considered to be the blueprint of the government’s vision.

“There is no reference to inflation. If you are a well wisher of people how can you remain silent in inflation especially when you yourself have the hiked CNG price, water tariff and price of LPG,” said Harsh Vardhan.

The BJP leader said the government failed to talk about job creation, cleaning of Yamuna which is still like a drain after spending of crores of rupees and plans for laying water supply pipes for areas which do not have the facility.

“You have simply reproduced your manifesto without giving the details of how you are going to fulfil your promises,” said Harsh Vardhan.

He also slammed a suggestion by an AAP leader for suggesting a referendum in Jammu and Kashmir on whether the Army should be deployed in the state.

The BJP leader said there can be no compromise on the integrity of the country and criticised the AAP party for raising doubts over the veracity of an encounter in south Delhi in which an inspector was shot dead by terrorists.