Transfers, arrests of Delhi officials attempt to paralyse AAP govt: Sisodia

Minutes after the CBI arrested Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s principal secretary Rajendra Kumar in a case of alleged corruption, deputy CM Manish Sisodia said the timing of the arrest was questionable and the Centre was trying to destabilise the government.

Minutes after the CBI arrested Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s principal secretary Rajendra Kumar in a case of alleged corruption, deputy CM Manish Sisodia said the timing of the arrest was questionable and the Centre was trying to destabilise the government.

Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia (HT File Photo)

“If Kumar is wrong, he should be punished, but the timing of the arrest is suspect. The Centre is targeting him only because of Kejriwal and the tremendous support that the Aam Aadmi Party is getting in Punjab and Goa. The CBI hasn’t placed any document against Kumar in any court in months. Why has he been arrested today -- a day after a massive AAP rally in Punjab?” Sisodia said.

Read: CBI arrests Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s principal secy in graft case

According to the first information report (FIR), Kumar promoted a company, Endeavour System Pvt. Ltd. from 2007, by allegedly misusing his official position and facilitated tenders worth Rs 9.5 crore to it.

“The Centre has started a war against the people of Delhi. Principal secretary and deputy secretary have been arrested and the assistant secretary has been transferred. The CM office has been paralysed. Officers who are working for the people living in unauthorised colonies, those working in the education sector are being transferred. The transfers are happening today, along with the arrests. No government has fallen to this level earlier. What is the emergency? But we want the Centre to know, even if they leave only peons in the government, we will run the government and we will work,” he said.

Sisodia alleged that Delhi government officials were being transferred out of turn.

“In Andaman and Nicobar Islands, there are 24 posts for DANICS (Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Services) officers. There are 23 officers already posted there but eight officers from Delhi have been transferred there. Will 31 officers be posted there now? In Delhi, we have vacancies. People who are working with dedication are being sent away and the system is being destabilised.”