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DELHI Facing Constitutional Crisis AS CM with His Colleagues on Dharna in L-G’s Secretariat

WHILE the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Ministers led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal continued dharna in Raj Niwas and its arch rival BJP leaders staged a sit-in in CM’s Secretariat, the Delhi Congress expressed its concern over the danger faced by national Capital due to rising pollution levels and slammed leaders of AAP and BJP for ignoring the plight of Delhiites while trying for photo off in air-conditioned   venues. Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken said for the last three days, pollution in the city have crossed danger mark and ignoring emergency like situation both the parties are staging dramas .Thousands of Congress workers wearing anti-pollution masks protested at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station on Thursday braving  rising  mercury. Addressing the gathering, Maken said “We want to wake up Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Ministers from slumber and draw their attention towards the alarming situation of pollution in the capital city.”He also said that at the time, the city is facing water crisis, electric shortage for hours, the Chief Minister is staging protest instead of taking action to tackle such issues.

Officers attached to the government said:’ we are not on strike “ as alleged  by the CM .As Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal  says he is compelled to function from his  home due to the agitation, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, along with his three Cabinet colleagues continuing their dharna at the Lieutenant Governor’s office since Monday. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday targeted LG Anil Baijal, wondering whether he did not have even “four minutes” to meet them in the last four days.Rajya Sabha member and senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh alleged that nobody was being allowed to meet the Chief Minister during his sit-in at the L-G Secretariat and asked if was  under arrest. Kejriwal and his three Cabinet colleagues — Manish Sisodia, Gopal Rai and Satyendra Jain — have stayed put at the L-G’s office since Monday evening over their demands, including  direction to officers to end their “strike” and action against those who have struck work. They also want the L-G to approve the proposal for doorstep delivery of ration.Singh alleged the “strike” by IAS officers was “at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and under the protection of Baijal”.”The Chief Minister has been staging sit-in at the L-G Secretariat for the last four days. We want to ask whether Baijal could not spare even four minutes to meet him in the last four days,” said Singh.He said the party has sought an appointment with President Ram Nath Kovind, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Lt Governor Anil Baijal over the IAS officers’ strike issue. However, the IAS officers’ association has claimed that no officer has been on strike and no work has been affected. Kejriwal has also mailed a letter urging the Prime Minister for intervention to end the IAS officers’ “strike” claiming that the L-G was doing “nothing” to break the impasse. The Chief Minister cited instances when Government work was stalled as the officers were not attending meetings with Ministers for the past three months. Accusing the Delhi Government of making civic bodies financially crippled by holding funds under plan and non-plan head, Mayors of all the three municipal corporations on Thursday said they will stage dharna at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence in case their due is not cleared at earliest. Also, all three corporations have planned to knock at the door of the High Court for contempt of court against the Delhi Government. Meanwhile, Mayors of Delhi’s three civic bodies  have alleged that  the Government is not  releasing funds provided for the corporations in its annual Budget. Mayor of North Delhi had already met the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Secretary and requested their intervention in this matter. They also alleged that the Government is  only interested in politics and not in the welfare of the citizens and  the employees. North Delhi Mayor Adesh Gupta said Rs 2,514 crore are pending under the plan head and Rs 1,202 crore under non-plan head.”The Delhi Government is giving a step-motherly treatment to the civic bodies by not releasing the funds due towards the corporations, even though the Court has directed in this regard.” He further said the Government has also zeroed the funds in plan heads under sectors, including urban development, transport, etc., which were allocated by the Government regularly earlier (Image courtesy: The Indian Express with inputs from The Pioneer).

 

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