Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday asked former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to clarify whether she was enjoying five major powers in administration during her tenure which was taken away from the Arvind Kejriwal-led government as soon it took over the reins of the national capital.
Addressing a press conference, Delhi ‘s AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said that Dikshit government enjoyed five major powers that include Services Department, Anti-Corruption Branch, powers for transfer, posting and vigilance inquiry into officers and all files not be sent to the L-G for approval.
Bharadwaj said that the criticism of Dikshit that the Delhi state government should learn how to develop cordial relationship with centre stands no ground, “as Delhi government is left with no powers unlike her government.”
“We just want to ask Sheila ji a simple question, was she enjoying all the five powers that have been taken away from the AAP government,” he added.
Bharadwaj said it was only during the time of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government at the Centre when almost every state and Chief Minister had cordial relationship with the Centre.
He said since the Narendra Modi has taken over the charge of the BJP government, there had developed an animosity between the Centre and states.
The AAP spokesperson said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday made it clear in the Delhi Assembly how the Centre had snatched all powers from AAP government to cripple it.
Speaking in the Assembly during the discussion on the outcome report, Kejriwal accused Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal for “stalling” his government’s works and urged that all powers that were vested with state government during his Congress predecessor Sheila Dikshit’s tenure be restored to his dispensation.