Kejriwal threatens to quit his post if Lokpal Bill not passed

New Delhi, Feb 10:

chief and the New Delhi Chief Minister

has taken up cudgles against everyone playing an obstacle for the passing of the Jan

. Deeply disappointed by Lt Governor General Najeeb Jung, who the party had consulted for the constitutionality of the Bill, Kejriwal even went to the extent of calling him a Congress agent.

However, now he has finally decided to show his trump card, saying that he would resign from the post of Chief Minister if the Bill is not passed. Having said that, he has drawn the flak of both the Congress and the BJP governments who say that he is running away from responsibility. In fact, DPCC chief Arvinder Singh Lovely said,"Nobody is above the law. The Chief Minister wants to run away from responsibility. He is finding an excuse. It is a shrewd tactic."

Opposition calls this a cheap tactic and shirking of responsibilities.

The BJP also said,"If Kejriwal really wants to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill as per the rule of law, he should make a proper effort instead of fooling the people. This is a cheap publicity stunt ahead of the elections."

Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi criticized him for demanding help from Anna to help him fight for the bill when he had not even been remembered when Kejriwal was sworn in as the Chief Minister. She Twitted,"major confrontation while blaming others. I wonder if the Delhi Lokayukta Bill is drafted to be passed? Or was it to cause major confrontation to walk away while blaming many others!" She also said,"At swearing-in as CM Delhi, AK completely forgot Anna! There was no expression of gratitude even! Now Anna's support being sought yet again!!"

The Aaam Aadmi Party is likely to table the Bill this week, even when the Home Ministry has sought the legal opinion on Kejriwal's letter in which he has requested the ministry to withdraw the central notification that makes the Lieutenant Governor's sanction mandatory to introduce Bills in the Delhi Assembly.

The passing of the Bill is crucial for the party as it is one of the party's election agendas. They have, hence, planned to pass the Bill in a special session at the Indira Gandhi stadium on Feb 16. The Delhi Cabinet had cleared the draft Jan Lokpal Bill on February 3.

Kejriwal said, "If the Jan Lokpal Bill is not passed then there is no reason I should be the Chief Minister. I am ready to sacrifice the chair of Chief Minister to free the country from corruption."

OneIndia News