Kejriwal urges Modi, Rajnath to give up control of anti-graft body

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Rajnath Singh to “give up control” of Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) and support Delhi government’s anti-graft efforts.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Rajnath Singh to “give up control” of Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) and support Delhi government’s anti-graft efforts.

File photo of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal during Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in New Delhi. Kejriwal has urged the PM and home minister to give up control of anti-corruption branch. (Hindustan Times)

“I would also urge PM and Rajnath ji to now give up their control over ACB and support Delhi government’s anti-corruption efforts,” Kejriwal wrote on Twitter.

The chief minister also said that the Delhi government is not helpless and has several ways to nab corrupt persons.

“Just becoz ACB is not wid us doesn’t mean Del govt is helpless. Del govt has many ways to nab corrupt (sic),” he tweeted.

In the past, Kejriwal has accused the Centre of taking away the powers of ACB and has demanded that the anti-graft body be handed over to the AAP dispensation to take strict action against those involved in corruption.

On Wednesday, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia warned Delhi government’s ministers, legislators and officers of strict action if they are found to be involved in corruption, after principal secretary Sanjay Pratap Singh was arrested by CBI for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 2.2 lakh.

Sisodia had also said that there is no space for any “corrupt” officer in the Delhi government.

“We want to give a clear message to officers involved in corruption that they won’t be spared...Singh’s arrest message is if you are corrupt, we won’t spare you irrespective of whether you are a peon, MLAs, officer or minister,” Sisodia had said.