New Delhi: The Delhi High Court verdict that the Lt Governor is the city administration's boss triggered a fresh war of words on Thursday between AAP government and incumbent Najeeb Jung, who said he felt sorry for Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and that his interpretation of the Constitution is "laughable".
Refusing to back down, the AAP government said it will challenge the order in the Supreme Court, asserting it has been targeted for trying to contain corruption. It also questioned why the Constitution was amended to have a legislative assembly if the city was to be run by the LG.
Jung said that all the issues raised by AAP government have been declared wrong by the Court, suggesting that approaching the apex court on the matter will be futile.
"I feel sorry for him (Kejriwal). Because he shows a paranoia which is really of concern. He should mature," Jung said, calling handling of certain issues by the Chief Minister "childish" and his interpretation of certain provisions of the Constitution "laughable".
Jung also said the Delhi government will have to take corrective measures after the verdict. "We respectfully disagree with the High Court verdict," Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said, adding there was a "big difference" between any other Union Territory and the national capital and alleged that on the "pretext of rules", various decisions aimed at curbing corruption have been stalled.
Jung, addressing a rare press conference, said a number of decisions including Delhi Government's directions to power regulator DERC, appointment of government representatives to BSES board and certain orders relating to tax will have to be "corrected" as they did not have his concurrence.
At the same time, he said the Court's ruling that he is the "administrative head" of Delhi was neither a victory for him nor a defeat for Kejriwal, noting fulcrum of the verdict was to protect the sanctity of Constitution.
The BJP and Congress attacked the AAP government asking it to respect Constitutional provisions.
Arguing that AAP government has been targeted for trying to contain corruption, Sisodia said "The High Court says Delhi is merely an Union Territory. If as per Constitution Delhi is only an UT, then why was it amended to make Delhi an UT with legislature.
"If Delhi was to be run by the Lt Governor, then why was the Constitution amended to have state assembly. Why provision was made to have an elected government. We were targeted as we tried to rid the city of corruption," he told reporters.
Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain said city government will move the Supreme Court against the HC verdict.
"Several acts of the Parliament relating to Delhi have defined both the Lt Governor and the Government of NCT as different entities. So, if Constitution had considered Delhi a mere UT, the city would have functioned like Chandigarh, Lakshadweep and Andamans. But it is not so," Sisodia said.
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