Once again a row has erupted between Delhi Chief MinisterArvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal over the protesting farmers,sitting at the borders of Delhi.
Reacting to the Lt Gov’s decision of dismissing a panelof lawyers picked by the Delhi govt for cases against the farmers protestingagainst three contentiously formed laws, Arvind Kejriwal said it was “an insultto the people of Delhi.”
Taking it to his Twitter handle, AAP supremo ArvindKejriwal wrote, “Overturning decisions taken by the cabinet is an insult to thepeople of Delhi. The people of Delhi chose the AAP government with a historicmajority and defeated the BJP. Let BJP run the country, let AAP run Delhi. Suchinterference in everyday work is an insult to the people of Delhi. BJP shouldrespect democracy.”
Notably, Lt Gov Baijal has approved a team constituted bythe Delhi Police, which reports to the BJP-led government at the Centre, saidDeputy CM Manish Sisodia after Baijal rejected the panel of lawyers.
Earlier this week, Kejriwal’s cabinet had decided thatlawyers picked by the Delhi government would become public prosecutors of theDelhi Police in the cases filed against the farmers in connection with the January26 violence and vandalism, when farmers organized a tractor rally to Delhi onthe unmarked routes.
However, Mr. Anil Baijal rejected the decision of theDelhi cabinet and approved the panel of Delhi Police.
In a letter to the Delhi government, the LieutenantGovernor said that the matter had been referred to President Ram Nath Kovind,but since it is an urgent matter, exercising his powers, 11 lawyers named bythe Delhi Police were appointed as public prosecutors in the cases.
"I want to ask what is the interest of the centre inchoosing lawyers? If they have to choose the lawyers also, what is the point ofthe elected government of Delhi?" Mr. Sisodia said.