New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday accused Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena of obstructing programmes and schemes of the AAP government.
Addressing a press conference here, Kejriwal said by "abusing" him, Saxena was insulting the mandate of two crore people of Delhi.
In a statement, the LG office said the lieutenant governor in his communication with the chief minister has never ever been "abusive".
"Even in matters of procedural impropriety, deliberate lapses and apparent misdemeanour in matters of governance affecting the people of Delhi, the LG has conveyed his views in writing, in a most dignified, proper and parliamentary language," read the statement.
Without naming anybody, Kejriwal alleged that his government's mohalla clinics and schools will be targeted next, but told the people that "your son will stand as a shield".
The AAP government has alleged that the LG has not yet approved the extension of 'Dilli Ki Yogshala' scheme, under which free yoga classes are conducted, after October 31.
Sources in the LG Secretariat, however, said Saxena's office had not received any file from the government seeking permission to continue the programme.
Kejriwal said, "I have noticed that the kind of language used by the LG is very unfortunate and abusive at times. However, I have no problems with it. Arvind Kejriwal is not important, what the LG says to Kejriwal is not really the issue."
Asserting that his only ambition is to serve the people of Delhi well, he said that by using such language against him, the LG was insulting the mandate of people.
"But what bothers me is that when the LG abuses Kejriwal, he is not just abusing me but the Chief Minister of Delhi. This is a constitutional post. The CM of Delhi is the CM of over two crore people of Delhi. By abusing the CM you are also abusing the two crore people who have given this opportunity to Arvind Kejriwal.
"You are also abusing the mandate that these people have given to me and my party. This I think is very unfortunate from the LG. The people of Delhi do not deserve this. Also, by using abusive language no good has ever come out," he said.
The Aam Aadmi Party national convener told the people that there will henceforth be attempts to stop mohalla clinics and schools, but "your son will stand as a shield".
"They stopped Dilli Ki Diwali, we used to celebrate it every year but this year they pressured the officers into stopping it. They stopped the 'Red Light On, Gaadi Off' campaign. We have learnt that they are now targeting our Mohallla Clinics and schools.
They will stop our world renowned Mohalla Clinic model by blocking the tenders for free medicine and lab tests. They will now go after the contract workers in our hospitals. They will try to fire guest teachers from schools so that the education of poor children can be hampered," Kejriwal alleged.
Alleging that there are attempts to stop the thriving education and healthcare model of Delhi, he went on to add that will not let the initiatives be stopped.
“I want to assure the people of Delhi, come what may, I won't let Delhi be hurt any more. I am standing like a shield in front of all the attacks of the BJP and the LG. No matter how they try to stop the progress of Delhi, I will find a way out.... We won't let a single project of Delhi stop because of these people now. The LG can do whatever he wants. The BJP can do whatever they want. I am standing shoulder to shoulder with the people of Delhi. You can come after me, but I won't let you touch a single Delhi'ite," he said.
The LG office hit back at Kejriwal's allegations and reminded that the Delhi High Court had restrained AAP leaders from levelling "false" allegations against him in September.
The Delhi High Court also directed the Aam Aadmi Party leaders to remove their alleged libelous posts, videos and tweets against Saxena on social media.
The AAP leaders had alleged that Saxena had received and channelised demonetised currency in November 2016 while acting as chairman of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). The party had alleged that Saxena was involved in a Rs 1,400 crore scam.
"The Lt Governor in his communication with the CM has never ever been 'abusive'. On the contrary, even in matters of extreme breach of propriety or blatant verbal misconduct on part of the CM, his ministers and members of AAP, the LG has ignored and refrained from any comment. It may be noted that it took the Delhi High Court to reprimand and restrain them from being abusive towards LG," the statement from the LG office said.
The statement added that even in matters of "procedural impropriety, deliberate lapses and apparent misdemeanour in matters of governance affecting the people of Delhi", the LG has conveyed his views in writing, "in a most dignified, proper and parliamentary language".
"His choice of words even in conveying his displeasure or non concurrence over valid issues of concern to the people of Delhi has been more than civil and proper," it stressed.
Alleging that this was an attempt by Kejriwal to divert people's attention from real issues, it said that the chief minister should follow the LG's advice.
"It is unfortunate that an issue is being tried to be manufactured with the help of pre-decided planted questions through the media, where none exists. This is obviously an attempt to deflect people's attention from real issues that have recently come to the fore and should be avoided by the CM. It will do the people of Delhi, a lot of good if the CM and his government followed the advice/directions given to CM by the LG, in a fully constitutionally valid manner and in unquestionably dignified, civil and proper language," it added.
