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Rajnath counsels Kejriwal to avoid confrontation

Last Updated 15 June 2015, 18:04 IST

Amid a bitter tussle over control of bureaucrats, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia on Monday called on Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is learnt to have advised them to avoid confrontation.

Singh is also learnt to have told the duo to resolve all issues with the Centre and the Lieutenant-Governor amicably through talks.

The home minister’s comments came during a meeting when Kejriwal told Singh about the difficulties being faced by the Delhi government following the standoff over transfer and postings of bureaucrats, Home Ministry sources said.

The meeting at North Block, the seat of Union Home Ministry, lasted for about an hour and is the first the chief minister is having with Singh after the eruption of the fight between Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and the Delhi government over the appointment of Shakuntala Gamlin as acting Chief Secretary.

The meeting is also seen as the first attempt to make the situation calmer in the capital where the BJP-led Centre and AAP-led city government were on a confrontation mode.
Delhi government sources said Kejriwal objected to the recent appointment of Mukesh Meena, an IPS officer, as the new chief of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) against Delhi government’s wish. He also wanted the Delhi government-appointed Home Secretary Rajendra Kumar to be allowed to work without any interference from Lieutenant Governor-appointed Home Secretary Dharam Pal, they said.

On both the counts, the Union home minister reminded the chief minister that the decisions taken by his ministry and Jung were within the rules, hence, these would prevail.

Kejriwal and Sisodia sought the home ministry’s cooperation in running the city government. They complained to Singh that smooth functioning of the government has become difficult due to the constant tussle with the LG, home ministry sources said, adding they sought Singh’s intervention.

Singh sought to explain that his Ministry had followed the rules framed in accordance with the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act. Kejriwal has been advised not to resort to confrontation, they said.

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(Published 15 June 2015, 18:04 IST)

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