AAP: Centre contradicting own stand

Ashutosh says city govt merely following orders of Centre to investigate matter

The AAP on Monday, citing the high court order and a letter of acceptance from former solicitor-general Gopal Subramanium to head a commission of inquiry notwithstanding L-G Najeeb Jung’s reservations over it, said the Centre should allow a probe into alleged irregularities in the DDCA as it “contradicts its own stand”.

Addressing a news conference, AAP leader Ashutosh claimed that the high court, which is looking into the legality of the commission of inquiry formed by the Delhi government, has not prohibited it from forming another inquiry commission. AAP leader Ashutosh said the Delhi government was merely following the orders of the Union government to probe the matter.

The party claimed that the Union ministry of sports and youth affairs had asked the Delhi government to probe the alleged irregularities in the DDCA and by “scuttling” the probe, it will only “contradict its ord-er”. “The court has not said that another commission of inquiry cannot be formed till it gives its order in this case,” the AAP leader said.

He was referring to the ongoing case before the Delhi high court where the Centre and the city government is locked in turf battle to decide on the legality of commission of inquiry. A few days back Mr Jung had sought the Centre’s intervention, questioning the legality of appointment of inquiry panel.

Ashutosh also flashed a letter of acceptance by Mr Subramanium to head the inquiry commission formed to probe the alleged irregularities in DDCA. “Mr Subram-anium is a noted Supr-eme Court lawyer and a constitutional expert. He has said that the order to pass a commission of inquiry was passed by the Delhi Assembly. So formation of a probe panel is very much legal,” he said.

Taking a jab at the BJP, AAP’s Delhi unit secretary Dilip Pandey said the saffron party had given Mr Jaitley a clean chit merely on claims made by a “two-member committee of spokespersons”.