AAP govt insulting Northeast people: MoS Rijiju on row over top officer's appointment

The war of words over appointment of Delhi's acting chief secretary continued on Sunday with Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju accusing the Aam Aadmi Party government of indulging in character assassination of a lady Indian Administrative Service officer from the Northeast and "disobeying" the Constitution.

Rijiju said the officer's appointment was made by the LG as per the rules and the Delhi government was making allegations against her without any proof.

"This is nothing but character assassination of a lady IAS officer from the Northeast. They are saying she is incapable. What are the charges against her? If she is involved in any corruption, bring charges against her. By making public statements against her, they are just indulging in character assassination, it is an insult to the people of Northeast," he told PTI in New Delhi.

Rijiju's comments came in the wake of the controversy over Arvind Kejriwal government's opposition to the appointment of Shakuntala Doley Gamlin as acting chief secretary of Delhi by Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung.

Gamlin hails from Assam.

The minister said the officer's appointment was made by the LG as per the rules and the Delhi government was making allegations against her without any proof. "What are charges against her? If you have proof, show it," he said.

Rijiju charged that the AAP government was trying to violate rules and disobeying the Constitution by questioning the authority of the LG. He asked whether the city government was trying to bring anarchy in Delhi.

The minister strongly criticised the AAP's charge that the Centre was attempting a "coup" in Delhi and questioned use of "undemocratic words" like coup.

Making it clear the national capital is just a Union Territory, he said that its government cannot be equated with any other state government as the LG enjoys special power and the state government has limited powers as per Constitution.

"You keep saying that you are an elected government. But you must understand that the three municipal corporations in Delhi are also elected bodies. The central government is also elected by the people. All work under the Constitution and follow rules.”

"Merely because you are an elected government does not mean that you have overriding powers and work against rules and the Constitution," Rijiju, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh, said.

Image: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal