Modi unable to digest defeat in Delhi: Kejriwal after bill is rejected

Staring at a major crisis, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday tried to brazen out the setback of President’s refusal to give nod to a bill to shield 21 Aam Aadmi Party members of legislative assembly, appointed parliamentary secretaries, from ambit of office of profit law, by accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of ‘selectively targeting’ his government.

Kejriwal said President Pranab Mukherjee’s decision was based on Centre’s recommendation and wondered why nobody was talking about legislators holding similar posts in states like Gujarat, Rajasthan and Punjab. He alleged that Modi was indulging in vendetta politics as BJP was ‘scared’ of AAP and was yet to ‘digest’ its defeat in Delhi polls.

The Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress were, however, unsparing in slamming Kejriwal, saying his legislators were not above law and demanded their immediate disqualification.

Both the parties said MLAs holding the posts of parliamentary secretaries in other states have legal protection.

“There are parliamentary secretaries in Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, West Bengal and across the country. Those in Punjab get Rs 1 lakh per month, car and bungalow as well. But they have not been disqualified. Why only Delhi? Because he (Modi) is scared of (the) Aam Aadmi Party,” said Kejriwal.

The President has refused to give his assent to a bill passed by the Delhi assembly last year seeking amendment in the existing law to insulate the 21 legislators from the purview of of the office of profit law with retrospective effect.

The Election Commission is currently examining petitions seeking disqualification of the legislators. The Commission had sought replies from the MLAs in question. Fresh elections will have to be held if the 21 MLAs are disqualified on the ground of holding office of profit. The AAP has 67 MLAs in the 70-member assembly. The remaining three are BJP legislators.

Rejecting Kejriwal’s reference to MLAs holding similar posts in other states, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ajay maken said the states have amended their laws to allow such appointments. He said no state in India has 21 parliamentary secretaries.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra slammed Kejriwal for questioning the credibility of the President’s office and accused him of being ‘obsessed’ about attacking Modi for no rhyme or reason.

He asked Kejriwal not to make the President’s decision a ‘political issue’.

BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi demanded disqualification of the 21 AAP MLAs, saying it is an ‘open and shut’ case and called Kejriwal ‘new-age Tughlaq’ who has ‘cheated’ people.

“The Election Commission (while recommending Jaya Bachchan’s disqualification) from the Rajya Sabha opined that any post, even if held in an advisory capacity, was an office of profit.

“This is an open and shut case. The EC must take a final call on the disqualification issue at the earliest. The appointment of 21 parliament secretaries is illegal as the prescribed limit for such an appointment in Delhi is only one,” she said.

Congress spokesman P L Punia wanted Kejriwal to resign taking moral responsibility over the whole issue.

Defending the decision, Kejriwal said they are not being paid any additional perks and that they were tasked to look after power supply, water supply, functioning of hospitals and schools.

“We have given additional responsibilities to our MLAs. They are working for free. Our notification says they are not entitled to any remuneration, perks, facilities or services from the government,” Kejriwal told reporters.

The chief minister said if the MLAs are working for free, then what is ‘troubling’ the prime minister.

“If they are disqualified and made to sit at home, what will they (Centre) get 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,” he added.

Sources said Delhi government may seek legal opinion on the entire issue.

Patra said the issue of disqualification of 21 MLAs lies before the President and the Election Commission.

He said that as per the existing law formulated in 2006, Delhi is entitled to have one parliamentary secretary and Kejriwal should have ensured its amendment before appointing 21 MLAs as parliamentary secretaries.