Govt fighting for powers of elected representatives

The AAP government will continue to fight for getting powers for the elected representatives, said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the Assembly on Monday, indicating the intentions of the government to move the Supreme Court against a High Court order holding LG as the administrative head in Delhi.

“We might be young in politics but do not take us lightly, we may finish you,” warned Sisodia, after the Opposition blamed the Aam Aadmi Party government of pursuing an ideology and work culture of confrontation.

As soon as the short duration discussion began on “situation arising out of the judgment delivered by the Delhi High Court on August 4 in matters related to governance of Delhi”, Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta cautioned that any attempt to dissect the ruling would amount to contempt of court.

Sisodia agreed to the suggestion and said the discussion should not be on the judgment but its implication.

He said the Centre is trying to indirectly impose President’s rule in Delhi but the Aam Aadmi Party government will continue to fight for the people and strengthen democracy.
“Our ideology and work culture cannot be doubted as we have been voted to power to fight for them and for their elected representatives,” said Sisodia.

He concluded the discussion in the absence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is out of Delhi.

Sisodia said that the AAP government is fighting to ensure that an elected person should be more powerful than a selected person – a veiled reference to Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung who has been selected to be the administrative head of the Union Territory.

The Bharatiya Janata Party earlier hit out at the AAP government for playing to the galleries and continuing its agenda of confrontation with an eye on political gains in other states.

“Please get over the mentality of a child and start delivering for the common man,” said Gupta.

Malviya Nagar legislator Somnath Bharti said the AAP government will challenge the High Court judgment in the apex court. Chandni Chowk legislator Alka Lamba said there cannot be any compromise on the party’s commitment to fight corruption.

Palam legislator Bhavna Gaur said the voters of Delhi have a right to elect legislators and a chief minister but it is not clear who will run the government.

She repeated Kejriwal’s stand. The CM had had asked why the value of a voter in Delhi should be less than that in any other state. “Are residents in Delhi paying less tax or are there any less?" she said.

Alleging attempts to hamper the AAP government, she said its attempt to order a probe into the ‘CNG scam’ has been blocked. "Can't an elected government order a probe into corruption?” said Gaur.

“Private power companies have allegedly conducted a Rs 8 crore scam but when we try to expose them, we are silenced,” Gaur said.

The legislator said the AAP government's work was being appreciated the world over. “Free medicine being given in hospitals is a model which has  government apart,” she said.

Laxmi Nagar legislator Nitin Tyagi said his voters keep asking him questions which he cannot answer.

He said the elected government is answerable to the voters and it is not supposed to function in a way that pleases a particular individual – an indirect reference to the LG.