AAP running Punjab from Delhi by remote, say Opposition parties

Arvind Kejriwal has turned CM Bhagwant Mann into a rubber stamp, they say

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wave at the supporters during a roadshow representing Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. | Photo Credit: PTI

Launching an attack on the Aam Aadmi Party, the Opposition parties in Punjab including the Congress, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Punjab Lok Congress on Tuesday accused its national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of running Punjab by “remote control” and turning Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann into a “rubber stamp”.

Former Minister and senior SAD leader Daljeet Cheema said the people of Punjab were shocked that Mr. Kejriwal was holding meetings with the Punjab Chief Secretary and the State Power Corporation Limited. “The apprehension in the minds of people that the Punjab government would be run by remote from Delhi under AAP rule is proving to be true.”

Asking Mr. Mann to clarify the situation immediately, Mr. Cheema said the manner in which the Delhi Chief Minister was riding roughshod over constitutional norms had made Punjabis insecure. “Punjabis rightfully fear that the officers of Punjab could be browbeaten to sign away the rights of the State on important issues like river waters. Mr. Mann should understand that he has been elected to office in Punjab and he alone should hold the required meetings and not give this right to the Delhi Chief Minister,” said Mr. Cheema.

BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh accused Mr. Kejriwal of converting Mr. Mann into a “rubber stamp” Chief Minister.

Mr. Chug said Mr. Kejriwal’s summoning senior IAS officers for a meeting with him in Delhi in the absence of the Chief Minister was a grossly unconstitutional act on his part. He said this has exposed the fact that Mr. Kejriwal would be supremo in Punjab and Mr. Mann a “rubber stamp”.

State Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja on Twitter asked if senior officers now report to Mr. Kejriwal and if Mr. Mann is the Chief Minister only on paper.

Punjab Lok Congress chief and former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh in a tweet said, “Worst was feared, worst happened. @ArvindKejriwal has taken over Punjab much before it was expected to happen. That @BhagwantMann is a rubber stamp was a foregone conclusion already, now Kejriwal has proved it right by chairing Punjab officers’ meeting in Delhi.”