Delhi government takes first potshot at new L-G

AAP trying to divert attention from “tainted” minister: BJP

Only a week from swearing-in as the Capital’s new Lt. Governor, Vinai Kumar Saxena was slammed by the AAP Delhi government on Wednesday, which accused him of attacking “Delhi’s constitutional sanctity” and appealed to him not to disrupt Delhi’s constitutional framework. 

The BJP, meanwhile, said AAP was doing so to divert the public’s attention from its “tainted” Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain.

This is the first tiff between AAP and Mr. Saxena, who was appointed by the Centre last week. The Delhi government had frequent run-ins with the former L-G Anil Baijal, whom AAP, on several occasions, accused of interfering with its governance.

AAP said the L-G had called a meeting of officials of the Delhi Jal Board and issued directions to them. “On May 30, Delhi’s new L-G called a meeting of Delhi Jal Board officers. In the meeting, he issued directions and orders to the DJB officers on a hoard of different issues. I think the L-G is new to Delhi, he is not completely aware of the constitutional situation of the national capital,” AAP leader Atishi said earlier in the day.

She added that it is necessary to apprise the LG that Delhi functions under the bounds of a constitutional framework. 

Later in the day, the party said that a delegation of ten AAP MLAs met Mr. Saxena and appealed to him to not interfere with the constitutionally mandated division of powers in Delhi. 

When contacted, the L-G’s office did not offer a comment.