The AAP leader alleged that the central government was stalling the work of the Delhi government as it had not been able to digest its defeat in the 2015 Delhi assembly polls.
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21 AAP MLAs are now facing the risk of disqualification on Office of Profit issue.
Lashing out at the Modi government, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed that parliamentary secretaries were appointed by previous regimes and the attack on AAP government reeks of double standards.
President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday refused to sign a bill that allowed 21 AAP MLAs to hold a second paying position as parliamentary secretary.
A Delhi lawyer had sent a petition to the President’s office, after the state cabinet cleared the proposal keeping parliamentary secretaries out of the office-of-profit purview on 19 June. Indian Express reports that the EC has issued notices to the 21 MLAs seeking an explanation on the appointment. However, to keep the party together during the time of the ouster of Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, Kejriwal appointed 21 parliamentary secretaries. He said no states in India has 21 parliamentary secretaries.
Arvind Kejriwal also took to Twitter to express regret at the decision of the President questioning its validity as the government had not, he argued, extended any pecuniary benefits to the 21 MLAs in question.
According to the Constitution, holding “Office of Profit” by an elected member is a violation.
The chief minister asked the lt. governor to also launch a graft probe into a 100-seat medical college he inaugurated here on Sunday.
Kejriwal pointed out that Parliamentary Secretaries in Punjab got a remuneration of Rs 1 lakh plus an official auto with a red beacon and an official bungalow. We were expecting them to reject this bill too.
Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of blocking assent to the bill, Kejriwal tweeted: “Modi ji does not respect democracy”.
Kejriwal stated that he was among a few people who are meant to serve the mankind, “struggle and construct” while the rest are tasked with destructing and putting spanners on every good work.
Another MLA said that the party has told the MLAs not to fear as legal options are available.
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The Delhi government released an order dated May 7, 1997 through which the then BJP government under Sahib Singh had appointed Nand Kishore Garg as parliamentary secretary, AAP said and accused the ruling party at the Centre of “doublespeak”.
