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APP govt report flays LG

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators on Wednesday demanded resignation of the Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal after a report card…

APP govt report flays LG

Anil Baijal. (Photo: IANS)

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators on Wednesday demanded resignation of the Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal after a report card highlighting major delays by him in the approval of schemes was tabled in the Delhi Assembly. However, the LG office was quick to reject the report terming it “incorrect”.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who tabled the report card titled “Outcomes of the office of the Lieutenant Governor”, said that the purpose of this activity is to hold LG accountable to people similar to Delhi government.

“The Delhi government believes in accountability of all institutions, and has therefore presented the ‘Outcome Budget Report Card’ and the ‘Timeline Budget’ in this Budget session. In continuation we are now tabling ‘Outcomes of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor’ before the Delhi Assembly, to ensure that this institution remains accountable to the people of Delhi,” Sisodia said. Sisodia highlighted delays of major project proposals sent to the office of the LG for approval.

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The AAP government, in its report, mentioned around 32 proposals wherein the LG either delayed his approval or rejected the government’s proposals.

According to the report, the highest delay for approval of a project by Baijal was for ‘Higher Education Loan Guarantee Scheme for Students’ – 402 days – while the lowest delay was for ‘Doorstep Delivery of Services’, which was delayed only by 21 days.

As per rules, all projects passed by the Delhi cabinet have to then be approved by the Lt. Governor before they can be implemented.

Sisodia said the Lt Governor had only two powers – to either have differences of opinion on government’s decision or send proposals to president. He also accused LG for protecting “corrupt officers”.

The report has also details of vacancies in all important Delhi government departments – such as the Services Department, which appoints officers under the ambit of the LG in Delhi.

As Sisodia completed his speech, all legislators of the ruling AAP stormed into the well of the House, demanding the resignation of Baijal.

Meanwhile, the LG office said that the report tabled in the Assembly contain “incorrect facts” and is an deliberate attempt to mislead.

“The LG office has learnt through media about the circulation of an LG’s outcome report. The report prima facie appears to contain incorrect facts in a deliberate attempt to mislead. A detailed factual response on this report shall be given tomorrow,” the statement from LG office reads.

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