BJP is scared of us and unable to digest defeat in Assembly poll, claims Kejriwal.
BJP is scared of us and unable to digest defeat in Assembly poll, claims Kejriwal.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of indulging in “political vendetta.” He added that the BJP is scared of the AAP and is unable to digest its defeat in the Assembly elections. Mr Kejriwal’s remarks came a day after President Pranab Mukherjee refused to give his assent to a legislation that would have protected 21 party MLAs, who were last year appointed parliamentary secretaries, and now face the prospect of disqualification.
“We have given additional responsibilities to our MLAs, but they are working for free. Our notification says that they are not entitled to any remuneration, perks, facilities or services from the government,” Mr Kejriwal said.
He questioned what will the Prime Minister achieve if these 21 MLAs are disqualified. “If they are working for free, what is troubling Modiji If all people are disqualified and made to sit at home, what will they (the Centre) derive from this Modiji hasn’t been able to digest defeat in Delhi and that is why they are doing all this to not let us work,” Mr Kejriwal added.
The chief minister questioned why parliamentary secretaries of other states have not been disqualified. “There are parliamentary secretaries in Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, West Bengal and across the country. Those in Punjab get '1 lakh per month, car and bungalow as well, but they have not been disqualified. Why only Delhi Because he (Mr Modi) is scared of the Aam Aadmi Party,” he said.
Asked about the Prime Minister’s role in the process as the bill has been turned down by the President and not him, Mr Kejriwal said, “The President does not take any decision. Probably the file doesn’t even go to him. The decision is taken by the Central government and the Union home ministry decided this.”
Mr Kejriwal had passed an order appointing the 21 party MLAs as parliamentary secretaries on March 13, 2015.
Petitions have been filed with the President seeking disqualification of these MLAs on the ground that they occupied office of profit, violating constitutional provisions. Acting as a quasi-judicial body, the Election Commission to whom the President referred the issue had sought replies of the 21 AAP MLAs.
The Delhi government had sought an amendment to the Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1997. Through the bill, the AAP government wanted “retrospective” exemption for the parliamentary secretaries from disqualification provisions.
The bill was forwarded by lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung to the Centre, which in turn sent it to the President with its comments. After examining the issue, the President did not give his assent to the bill, official sources said on Tuesday.
