New Delhi: The AAP-led Delhi government on Sunday completed 100 days in office, a period marked by its ongoing bitter tussle with the Lt Governor, a split in the party and implementation of a slew of its electoral promises, including slashing power tariff by 50 per cent and providing free water of up to 20,000 litres per month.
The government also relaunched the ‘1031’ anti-corruption helpline, where people can lodge complaints against officials, to weed out graft and achieve its stated objective of making Delhi the country’s first graft-free state.
The government has planned a mega event at Central Park here in the heart of the national capital tomorrow where the entire Delhi Cabinet will be present to highlight its achievements before the public.
The Arvind Kejriwal government has also initiated the process of regularising unauthorised colonies while it banned demolition of jhuggis immediately after assuming office and held a series of special camps to provide licences to e-rickshaws.
A new body, Delhi Dialogue Commission, was created to implement the government’s 70-point development agenda whereas 21 MLAs were appointed as Parliamentary Secretaries to assist in matters of governance.
Its bid to reach out to the rural constituency suffered a serious setback in the form of an alleged suicide of a farmer at a party rally days after it announced relief of Rs 20,000 per acre for rain and hailstorm hit farmers in Delhi. On the administrative front, Kejriwal had to settle for KK Sharma as the Chief Secretary as the Centre overruled his choice of Ramesh Negi.
A major conflict broke out as the Lt Governor Najeeb Jung appointed Shakuntala Gamlin as the acting Chief Secretary when Sharma went on a 10-day leave.
As Kejriwal questioned the LG’s authority and accused him of trying to take over the administration, the Union Home Ministry came out with a notification throwing its weight behind Jung.
The chances of the confrontation ebbing away looks a distant possibility as the two sides have raised the stakes in the power tussle with the Delhi government mulling to take the legal route.
The AAP government has also decided to call a two-day ’emergency’ session of Delhi Assembly from Tuesday to deliberate on the notification.
The comment by the Chief Minister, who has repeatedly alleged “conspiracies” against the government, that there should be a “public trial” of the media evoked sharp criticism.
Later, the government also issued a circular on filing of defamation cases against media houses for publishing or broadcasting news that damages the reputation of the Chief Minister, the council of ministers or the government. (PTI)
