Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Monday expressed strong disapproval of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal’s remarks labelling Chief Minister Atishi as a “temporary CM,” describing it as an affront to democratic values and the Constitution.
In a letter addressed to Atishi, Saxena criticised Kejriwal for undermining her authority, stating, “A few days ago, when your predecessor, Arvind Kejriwal, publicly declared you as a temporary or stopgap chief minister in the media, I found this highly objectionable, and I was hurt by it. This was not only an insult to you but also to the president of India, and to me, in my capacity as her representative,” Saxena said.
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“The public explanation given by Kejriwal regarding the temporary or stopgap nature of your position has no constitutional provision and is a flagrant disregard for the democratic spirit and values enshrined in the Constitution created by BR Ambedkar,” he added.
The LG lauded Atishi’s efforts in managing various administrative responsibilities, contrasting her proactive approach with her predecessor. “While your predecessor had no department under his charge and did not sign files, you have taken on the responsibility of various departments and have tried to address various administrative issues,” he noted.
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Saxena highlighted that Kejriwal’s statement had no constitutional basis, deeming it a “flagrant disregard” for the democratic values enshrined in the Constitution by Dr BR Ambedkar.
Concerns over Governance
Saxena also took aim at Kejriwal’s alleged misleading public statements, citing recent warnings issued by Delhi government departments about “non-existent schemes.” The LG appreciated officials for clarifying the misinformation, adding that such incidents have tarnished the dignity of the chief minister’s office.
He further accused Kejriwal of making baseless claims about probes into Atishi by the transport and vigilance departments. “This is not only false but such statements also imply that you are unaware of the activities of the departments working under you. In fact, it has now come to light through newspapers that the additional chief secretary of the transport department has written to inform you that neither any such action is being taken by their department or the vigilance department, nor has there ever been any discussion about it. He has completely rejected Kejriwal’s statements, labelling them as baseless and misleading,” Saxena said.
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The LG expressed concern over the impact of such remarks on governance and public trust. “As lieutenant governor, I am concerned about this level of public discourse and, at the same time, hurt by the conversation that portrays the full-time chief minister of my government as a temporary one,” he wrote.
Saxena concluded by extending new year greetings to Atishi and urging a more responsible approach to public discourse and administration.