Delhi BJP legislators will file details of their assets and liabilities as required in a notice issued by the Delhi Lokayukta, Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta said on Friday, even as he attacked the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for “resisting similar disclosure by its legislators”.
Though a complaint on not filing assets and liabilities was made “only against AAP MLAs”, the Lokayukta issued notices to all legislators, including those belonging to the BJP, which reflected its “impartiality”, said the BJP leader, adding that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should have set an example by filing the details himself.
“The BJP MLAs unanimously decided in a meeting in Vidhan Sabha that all four of them will comply with the notice of Lokayukta to file details of assets and liabilities,” Mr. Gupta said during a press conference.
Complaint filed
In a notice, the office of the Lokayukta had asked the ruling AAP legislators, including Mr. Kejriwal, to give their replies on a complaint alleging that they are not furnishing details of their assets and liabilities before the competent authority.
The issue was raised by advocate and RTI activist Vivek Garg, who on January 9 had filed a complaint with the office of Lokayukta alleging that details of assets and liabilities were not being filed by the AAP MLAs for three consecutive financial years.
“The AAP, which came to power four years ago on the plank of honesty and transparency in public life, is now surprisingly opposing the notice issued by the Lokayukta,” Mr. Gupta said.
At loggerheads
Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel said earlier that there was no law under which it was compulsory for the MLAs to furnish these details. Mr. Gupta, however, said the notice by the Lokayukta was a step in the direction of transparency in public life.
“When Parliamentarians can submit details of their assets and liabilities, there is no reason why Delhi MLAs cannot do so,” Mr. Gupta said.
