New Delhi, Juy 8: Days after 437 ‘specialists’ hired by the Delhi government were sacked by the Lieutenant Governor, the BJP attacked Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday, alleging several AAP volunteers were given jobs and their salaries were being borne by the Delhi government exchequer.
BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi alleged several names have surfaced who worked for Kejriwal but got salaries from the Delhi government.
The AAP rejected the allegations as not only “laughable” but also reflective the of “deep frustration of the BJP”. The BJP’s allegation comes days after 437 people hired as specialists, fellows and advisors were terminated by the Services department on the direction of Lt Governor VK Saxena.
A “new character” of Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP has emerged, Trivedi alleged during a press conference, that party workers appointed on government salaries do party work while holding government positions.
“There is a process for appointment on any government post and approval of the competent authority is needed for it. It is a very big legal issue if the AAP government has not followed the due process for these appointments,” he said.
The AAP used to issue affidavit that its leaders will not avail government accommodation and security facilities but now the public exchequer is being “misused”, Trivedi alleged.
Virendra Sachdeva, the BJP’s Delhi unit chief, claimed the names of 116 people — who have since deleted their social media accounts — have surfaced, showing that they were working for the AAP despite getting salaries from the government.
“It is unconstitutional for any person to work for a political party with government money like AAP cadre are doing and BJP strongly opposes it. In the last one month, high salaries have been paid to 107 workers of Aam Aadmi Party as salary from the government treasury,” Sachdeva claimed.
Sachdeva also demanded action from Lt Governor Saxena on the issue.
“We just want Kejriwal to answer if any approval was taken for appointments of the 437 persons by his government,” Sachdeva said. The BJP leaders also named some persons claiming they were AAP volunteers and yet being paid by the Delhi government for occupying different posts.
Sachdeva claimed that even wife of an MLA was paid salary by the government.
The BJP leaders also showed papers containing purported salary details of 107 persons whom they alleged to be associated with AAP.
In a statement, the AAP said, “These allegations are not only laughable but also reflect the deep frustration of the BJP. The BJP has labelled these individuals, who are contractual employees of the Delhi government, as Aam Aadmi Party workers based on their social media posts or likes.
“CM Arvind Kejriwal commands a 54 per cent vote share in Delhi, it is but natural that he is highly appreciated both online as well as on the ground,” it said.
“Appreciating his governance model should not be considered a crime.” All the 400 people who the LG has sought (LG) to terminate through his illegal orders have been appointed after due compliance with the specific rules and conditions of the relevant departments, it said. (PTI)
