Congress, BJP flay Kejriwal for opposing Gamlin's appointment

New Delhi, May 15: Aam Aadami Party government today came under attack from opposition parties for opposing the appointment of senior bureaucrat Shakuntala Gamlin as acting Chief Secretary of the city.

Calling AAP-government "undemocratic" Congress leader Haroon Yusuf said, "If there is any charge against an officer you must inquire and why are they (AAP-government) trying to blackmail her (Gamlin) like this. They were trying to harass her and this kind of tactics they have done with another IAS officer.

"This government doesn't believe in the principal of democracy, earlier they came out with gag order against media and now they are doing with the bureaucracy." Yusuf also blamed the AAP for blackmailing people who raises voice against them. "Kejriwal and his government have become used to of blackmailing and harassing people.

This is how they are trying to finish the voice of sanctity and anyone talking about rules and regulation. Kejriwal and his party has different set of rules and regulation," Yusuf said.

Taking a similar stand BJP leader RP Singh said, "This is in bad taste and this sent a message to bureaucracy that if you don't go my way then I am going to hit you now. He (Kejriwal) is trying to run Delhi government like his party where he can kick out people and raise question against them."

The Lt Governor today gave the additional charge of Chief Secretary to Gamlin, a 1984-batch IAS official, hours after she wrote a scathing letter to Jung alleging that she was pressurised by a senior bureaucrat in CM's office not to be in race for the post due to her proximity to BSES discoms.

Slamming the move, the AAP government said the LG cannot bypass the elected government and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and that he acted against "the Constitution, GNCT of Delhi Act and the Transaction of Business Rules."

PTI