New Delhi : The AAP government on Tuesday told President Pranab Mukherjee that Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung was interfering in the working of Delhi’s “democratically elected government” and threatening officials.
Emerging after meeting Mukherjee along with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told the media: “We had a good meeting with the president. We told him that the LG is trying to run Delhi the way he did during President’s Rule.
“We told him (president) that that LG is issuing direction to officers by bypassing the chief minister and threatening them. If this goes on, where will democracy be?”
Sisodia said Kejriwal and he informed the president that despite their objections, Jung insisted on appointing Shakuntala Gamlin as acting chief secretary of Delhi.
“We later approved it, and now Shakuntalaji is working as acting chief secretary, but now he (Jung) is interfering in the appointment of secretaries too,” Sisodia complained.
A long-time Kejriwal confidant, Sisodia said Mukherjee listened to them “carefully” and asked for the details of the tussle between Jung and the Aam Aadmi Party government over the appointment of senior officials.
“He (president) was worried and concerned (over the matter). He assured us that he will look into it.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Jung also met Mukherjee. Details of the meeting were not available.
There have been differences between the Delhi government and Jung over a range of issues, with the appointment of Gamlin as the latest flashpoint.
The Kejriwal government had objected to Gamlin’s appointment, accusing her of lobbying for power companies.
While Kejriwal has accused Jung of bypassing his government, Jung has said that all his decisions were in accordance with the constitution.