In a setback to the Arvind Kejriwal led AAP Government in Delhi, President Pranab Mukherjee has refused to sign a bill passed by Delhi Government to protect the 21 MLAs of Aam Admi Party from disqualification under the office of profit law.
Under the bill, offices of 21 parliamentary secretaries in the Delhi government were kept out of the clause of office for profit.
President House has asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to communicate the same to the Lieutenant Governor’s office.
File photo: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia with union home minister Rajnath Singh.
According to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, Delhi can have one parliamentary secretary, attached to the office of Chief Minister.
However, Kejriwal, in March last year, had passed an order to appoint 21 MLAs as parliamentary secretaries for smooth functioning of the Delhi government.
BJP on Tuesday hit out at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for questioning the decision of President Pranab Mukherjee withholding assent to the Parliamentary Secretaries Bill.
Talking to mediapersons , BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, Kejriwal is politicising the issue of Parliamentary Secretary Bill which is technical in nature.
Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly, Vijendra Gupta has called for resignation of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on moral grounds on the issue of office of profit as well as tanker scam.
A delegation led by leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly, Vijendra Gupta is meeting Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Najeeb Jung at 5.30 pm this evening.
The BJP Leader added that the Kejriwal govt should not have attacked on the heads of the Indian constitution.
Congress leader Ajay Maken question the ministers like facilities extended to 21 MLA’s.
AAP MLA and former Delhi govt. Minister Somnath Bharti says 21 MLAs under question shall resigned if proved to hold office of profit.
Speaking on the issue, former Chief Secretary Umesh Sehgal said that elected officer should not be given any other Govt. office.
He further added that there is no provision to appoint parliamentary secretary.
Ajay Maken, Delhi unit chief of Congress Party, too has met Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung this month to demand action against these 21 MLAs of Aam Admi Party who were working as parliamentary secretary with the ministers of Delhi government.
Maken had said that it would be unethical to allow these MLAs to participate in the assembly session.
