NEW DELHI: The AAP government in Delhi held an open Cabinet meeting on Monday, marking 100 days in office even as CM Arvind Kejriwal vowed to take back power from the Union Government in this term.
It was a day of victory for AAP as a verdict of the Delhi High Court, which came only hours before the meeting, vindicated the AAP government in its tussle against the Union Government over jurisdiction of the Anti-Corruption Branch of the city administration.
The government had convened the open Cabinet meeting after a Ministry of Home Affairs notification a week ago which had stated that the Delhi government has no right to initiate action against any Delhi Police personnel or government officials of Central cadre.
The CM and his Council of Ministers elaborated achievements of the government in last 100 days and took questions from the public in the meeting, held at a park in Connaught Place, the heart of the city.
“I want to work with the Centre, not fight. Dictatorship through notifications is not the way. The BJP got has three seats and they can’t stomach this,” Kejriwal said.
After a bitter war with the Lieutenant Governor over transfer and posting of bureaucrats, the CM had taken the matter to the President and Prime Minister to allow his government to function independently.
This was followed by a notification from the Union Government which threw its weight behind the LG making clear that the latter only has authority on the matter and he is not bound to consult the Council of Ministers on vital issues.
A Delhi High Court ruling came Monday which said that the state anti-corruption unit will report to the Delhi government and the Lieutenant Governor is “bound to act upon the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.”
