BJP got file from L-G before me, says Delhi CM

Arvind Kejriwal questions how copies of files marked to him reached the Leader of Opposition

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said that a copy of a file sent by Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal’s office to him on Wednesday had somehow made its way to BJP MLA Vijender Gupta before reaching the intended recipient.

CM writes to L-G

In a letter to Mr. Baijal on Thursday, the Chief Minister cited a newspaper report about Mr. Gupta’s statement regarding the file that was returned.

The Chief Minister said that the file had reached his office late on Wednesday evening “much after it reached the BJP, and the BJP MLA had already made statements”.

Stepping it up further, Mr. Kejriwal asked Mr. Baijal if it was “appropriate” that copies of files marked from the L-G to the Chief Minister “should reach the BJP before they reach the CM”.

LoP wanted plan junked

On Wednesday, Mr. Gupta, who is Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, had told the media that a file regarding constitution of market committees for six wholesale mandis — Azadpur, Kesopur, Narela and three mandis at Ghazipur — had been returned to the government.

‘Rules violated’

As reported by The Hindu on Thursday, Mr. Gupta had said that the government had violated the rules for nominating members, who, he said, were supposed to be agriculturists, traders and qualified commission agents. He demanded that the L-G reject the government’s proposal.

Officials question timing

According to sources in the Delhi government, the file was received by the Chief Minister’s Office a couple of hours after Mr. Gupta had already briefed the media about the issue.

Officials in the government questioned the timing of Mr. Gupta’s statement.

Requests for comments from the Lieutenant-Governor’s office went unanswered.