Gamlin protests CM Kejriwal's comment at her

Delhi’s acting chief secretary Shakuntala Gamlin is learnt to have lodged a strong protest with chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for questioning her integrity at his public rally on Sunday.

“Gamlin lodged her protest with the CM when she met him on Tuesday. She was hurt at being described as a corrupt officer and told the CM that she did not expect such comments from someone holding a constitutional office,” a source privy to the matter said.

A source in the Delhi government said that she had also asked Kejriwal if she enjoyed his confidence. The CM is believed to have replied in the affirmative.

At his Auto Samwaad rally in North Delhi’s Burari, Kejriwal had accused the senior bureaucrat of favouring power companies and claimed that she wanted to trick the government into signing documents that would give these firms Rs 11,000 crore.

The source said that Gamlin also complained to Kejriwal about a minister in his cabinet for putting pressure on her to act inappropriately.

A spokesperson for the chief minister’s office denied this.

“Meetings between the chief minister and the chief secretary are routine and regular. Yes, they did meet on Tuesday too, but she did not complain about any minister,” he said.

Gamlin was not available for comments.

Sources in the CM’s office sought to dispel suggestions of any showdown between the CM and Gamlin. Kejriwal has also refrained from targeting her of late.