Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday lashed out at Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's decision to refer to the Centre the city government's decision to choose lawyers for fighting cases related to the farmers' agitation. Kejriwal said overturning the decisions taken by the cabinet is an “insult” to the people of Delhi.
"The people of Delhi chose the AAP government with a historic majority and defeated the BJP. Let BJP run the country, let AAP run Delhi. Such interference in everyday work is an insult to the people of Delhi. BJP should respect democracy," the chief minister tweeted.
On July 19, Kejriwal had taken a decision that lawyers chosen by the Delhi government will fight cases related to the farmers' agitation against the three contentious agri laws enacted last year.
The Delhi cabinet had also rejected the Delhi Police's proposal to set up panels of public prosecutors for cases related to the Republic Day violence and last year's riots.
However, according to reports, the lieutenant governor on Friday forwarded the file on the cabinet decision to the Union Home Ministry due to a difference of opinion.
"The matter has been reserved for the consideration of the President of India due to the difference of opinion between the LG and the elected AAP government. The file of cabinet decision received by the LG office was forwarded to Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday for further action," PTI quoted sources as saying.
The report further said this is the first time the LG has reserved any matter for consideration of the President, owing to the difference of opinion with the Kejriwal dispensation, since the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2021, came into force in April this year.
The Delhi government had in July 2020 rejected the proposal of the Delhi Police for the appointment of special prosecutors in the riots cases. The LG had then overturned the Delhi government's decision and directed its home department to grant approval to the Delhi Police's proposed panel of lawyers.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleged on Saturday that functioning of the elected AAP dispensation was being obstructed.
He said the LG should intervene in issues of the city government only in "exceptional circumstances" and not in every other matter. “I want to ask what is the interest of the Centre in choosing lawyers? If they have to choose the lawyers also, what is the point of the elected government of Delhi," Sisodia said.
With PTI inputs
