Swift developments related to the interpretation of the recent Supreme Court verdict on the separation of powers between the elected Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi government and the Lieutenant-Governor unfolded here on Friday.
The issue of ‘services’ continued to remain the bone of contention with neither side willing to relent on the right to exercise control over bureaucrats, mainly those belonging to the All India Services cadre, posted in the capital.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who took several back-to-back decisions and cleared multiple proposals during the day announced he had now sought time from Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss the issue of Services.
The CM’s meeting with L-G Anil Baijal, to whom he had written on Thursday seeking time to discuss the verdict’s implications on Delhi’s administration, took place in the afternoon.
Though both the CM and the L-G described the 25-minute meet as a cordial one, Mr. Kejriwal, within minutes of its conclusion, held a press conference where he accused the Centre of being part of a ‘conspiracy’ to ‘paralyse’ the Delhi government on the issue of control of the ‘Services’, in alleged contravention of the SC verdict.
Terming it a ‘dangerous precedent’ Mr. Kejriwal said a government at the Centre allegedly choosing to function against Supreme Court orders would lead to ‘anarchy’ in the country.
