Kejriwal Blames LG Anil Baijal for Massive Corruption in Delhi
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has reported financial misappropriation worth crores of rupees including a multi-crore rupees ration scam in Delhi.
By Rakesh Raman
Amid reports of rampant corruption in the Delhi Government, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has decided to blame Delhi Lt. Governor (LG) Anil Baijal for the lapses.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India – the top auditor of government accounts – has reported financial misappropriation worth crores of rupees including a multi-crore rupees ration scam in Delhi.
While it is believed that Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is involved in the scam, Kejriwal says LG Baijal is responsible for it.
“This is what LG trying to protect when he rejects doorstep delivery of ration. Entire ration system is in the grip of mafia protected by political masters,” Kejriwal said Tuesday.
Extract from CAG report. This is what LG trying to protect when he rejects Doorstep delivery of rations. Entire ration system in grip of mafia protected by political masters. Doorstep delivery wud hv destroyed this mafia. pic.twitter.com/ZytNFgc0XF
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 3, 2018
Recently, AAP had said that Baijal is obstructing Delhi Government’s decision of delivering household items at consumers’ homes. It also said that the LG has stopped the use of e-POS machines in ration shops.
However, it is observed that Kejriwal had floated a crude doorstep ration delivery model a couple of months ago just to cover up the ongoing ration corruption in his government.
[ दिल्ली के स्कूलों में शिक्षा का गिरता हुआ स्तर और उसमें सुधार का प्रयास ]
In a rhetorical statement Kejriwal also added that exemplary action will be taken against the guilty in each case of corruption or irregularity pointed out by CAG. “No one will be spared,” he tweeted while it is believed that his own political colleagues in AAP are highly corrupt.
The Delhi unit of BJP has claimed that Kejriwal’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister Imran Hussain and another minister Satyendra Jain who is already facing corruption inquiries are behind this ration scam of a whopping Rs. 5,400 crore.
दिल्ली में गत 3 वर्ष में 5400 करोड़ का राशन घोटाला हुआ है और इसमें सतेन्द्र जैन एवं इमरान हुसैन की बड़ी भूमिका है
बिहार में लालू यादव द्वारा चारा घोटाले में फर्जी वाहनों के उपयोग की तर्ज पर जिस तरह अरविन्द केजरीवाल सरकार ने राशन घोटाले में फर्जी वाहनो 1/2 pic.twitter.com/nMVuprb7YF— BJP Delhi (@BJP4Delhi) April 4, 2018
Meanwhile, another AAP leader Manish Sisodia today presented a white paper to hold the institution of the LG accountable to the people. Earlier, Sisodia also had alleged that LG Baijal is trying to protect the corrupt bureaucratic system in Delhi.
AAP suggests that the hallmark of a democracy is accountability to the people. Elected representatives and all government officials are custodians of public money, and therefore they must be accountable to those very people.
AAP believes that in a democracy elected representatives are directly accountable to the people through elections. And the bureaucracy is accountable to these elected representatives.
But it is expected that – as it usually happens in India – this corruption issue will die down in a few days and no bureaucrat or politician will be punished for the crime.
By Rakesh Raman, who is a national award-winning journalist and social activist. He is the founder of a humanitarian organization RMN Foundation which is working in diverse areas to help the disadvantaged and distressed people in the society.
