Delhi governance is turning a joke

Every day there is one more trick played by the Government of Delhi and it has gone to an extent to turn Delhi into a laughing stock. The Chairperson of Women Commission is appointed by Arvind Kejriwal and she goes to office to find it locked. Same happened to Head of Anti Corruption Bureau when appointee of one or other found the room locked. We have also seen how the appointment of Chief Secretary that was officiating in nature was turned into political muscle flexing by AAP. Lt Governor has made it clear that all appointments are within his purview but it has no effect on AAP despite clearing Home Ministry circular and Court order to clear appointment of Meena the nominee of the LG and also refusal to stay the circular of Home Ministry. Court too is doing piecemeal justice but what is needed is to make it clear who is who in the capital of India. No salaries were being paid to cleaning workers of Delhi as AAP did not release funds for the Municipal Corporation that was controlled by BJP. Delhi witnessed most unclean conditions and finally court ordered to release funds and clear the junk.

AAP if suffering from delusion that after their thumping victory in election they are all powerful and that is why Kejriwal recognizes people not less than Narender Modi. He should also see the plight of Modi who has similarly a thumping majority in Parliament after election but he is finding himself at receiving end as he has to work within a Constitution. He cannot say I have been voted by majority and I don’t recognize others who did not get mandate. The problem of democracy is that it is not one man show. Within his own political party Kejriwal can act as dictator as he did in throwing out Prashant Bhushan and Yogener Yadav etc but when it is dealing with duly elected central government he has to work within a constitutional framework. Sometime one wonders if he has read the constitution under which he took oath and was expected to safeguard.

The problem is that our Constitution has become obsolete in many ways but in this case it has become the hurdle in the way of Kejriwal exercising his will. There was no problem in managing Delhi as a Union terriroy as other 5 others are being managed besides Pandichery that has the same provision as Delhi but no problem. In the same provision 69 amendment enacted to the Constitution Delhi was given along with Pondicherry a special privilege to be a hybrid –mid way between the full statehood and the union territory: a kind of quasi or semi state that had powers in many fields to manage the city except in regulating land, law and order and central officers. Like unlettered men Kejriwal and his followers pose that such provision does not bar them from still exercising these powers. Many governments since 1991 have ruled in Delhi including by BJP when Congress was in power in Centre but there was no problem as they knew they have to operate within the law.AAP refuse to act under the legal umbrella and that is why there is charge that they are anarchists which some of them do not deny. But using a democratic framework and getting elected under the same they refuse to abide by it when it does not suit them. His dilemma is also that he is chief minister yet he is not due to fragile constitutional balance.

Recently an ad compaign for enhancing image of Kejriwal worth more than 560 crores was released where it says’woh preshan karte rahe/ham kam karte rahe . A case if filed against him and Supreme Court has asked centre’s response. But interestingly the petitioner says who are  Woh?  Court who have jailed his ministers or opposition or who? Such self promotion is done by other CMs too and that needs to be curbed strictly as it wastes public money. If Delhi becomes full state and police is under him any day a central minister could be raided for a flimsy charge. The national capital of the country must remain under the central government otherwise it could be destabilization of the Republic itself. It is high time to abolish article 69 concerning special provision for Delhi .

Bus Stand

First Passenger: Why AAP says ‘woh preshan karte rahe hum kam karte rahe?

Second Passenger: It is better if they change it to ‘Woh preshan hote rahe / Hum sab se larte rahe ‘

---Prof N.K.Singh former Chairman International Airports Authority of India.