Kejri shown black flags

CM slams Centre for creating hurdles for his govt

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was shown black flags by protesting Congress workers at a road-opening function, which the AAP leader used to once again flog the Centre for troubling his government.

Kejriwal’s outburst on Sunday against the Centre revolved around his oft-repeated allegation of the Narendra Modi government taking vindictive steps to avenge the BJP’s electoral loss in the city.  

“It is sad but true...They have done everything possible to fail us,” said the Chief Minister.

He blamed the Central government for creating problems for his government and limiting its output to just 10 per percent of its potential.

“I hope the Centre will soon mend its ways and accept the fact that the people have rejected the BJP,” he said.

Kejriwal’s attack on the Centre is a party of the AAP government’s state strategy of confronting the central government on contentious issues and cooperating on select matters for the good of the city and serving the people.

The Chief Minister has claimed often that the Union Home Ministry has used Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung to control the Anti-Corruption Branch and declare as null and void many of the notifications issued by the AAP government.
CBI raid

The recent CBI raid on the Chief Minister’s Office over a corruption case related to a top bureaucrat took the relations between the Aam Aadmi Party government and the central government to a new low with Kejriwal claiming that the searches were aimed at terrorising  his team.

Kejriwal said the frequent confrontations with the Centre would not be allowed to impact the government’s functioning.

“I have taken upon myself the responsibility of taking on the Centre and shield my cabinet ministers from unnecessary tension created by them,” he said, adding that this was the reason why he had not kept any portfolio for himself.

At the function, Kejriwal highlighted his government’s achievement of saving Rs 125 crore out of the project proposal prepared by the previous government.

Soon after the launch of the six-lane elevated road on the Outer Ring Road connecting Madhuban Chowk and Mukarba Chowk, he retweeted a tweet: “Another elevated Corridor dedicated for the people of Delhi. Another 125 Crore saved!!...”

There was a minor commotion near the venue when former Congress legislator Devendra Yadav and his supporters showed black flags and shouted slogans against Kejriwal.

“Kejriwal claims that nearly Rs 350 crore has been saved in this corridor project, spanning three phases. The government credits this to use a new construction technique, but my RTI query did not substantiate this claim,” said Yadav  who earlier represented the Badli constituency.

The Chief Minister earlier congratulated the Public Works Department officials to help save public money by completing the project in less than the estimated cost.
“The construction of this elevated road began during the time of Sheilaji. It was to cost Rs 425, but the AAP government built it at Rs 300 crore.”

He said the money saved by the Public Works Department (PWD) engineers would help fund the government’s ambitious plan to start providing all free medicines in government hospitals.

To set an example for acknowledging good performance among officials, the AAP government has decided to give rewards to engineers from among the money saved in the project, an official said.