Arvind Kejriwal Chairs Cabinet Meeting with Delhi in Attendance: 10 Facts

NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has completed 100 days in office, is holding a public cabinet meeting attended by thousands of people in the heart of the capital. He plans to escalate his power struggle with the Centre and pitch for full statehood for Delhi.

1.As he began the meeting this evening at Connaught Place’s Central Park, Mr Kejriwal exulted in a High Court ruling earlier today that said the Delhi’s anti-corruption unit will report to his government.
2.In a major victory for Mr Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the High Court also said that Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung is “bound to act upon the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.”

3.”I congratulate you (Delhi). When God is with you, you don’t have to worry who’s against you,” Mr Kejriwal said.

4.As Mr Kejriwal’s ministers gave an account of their achievements, thousands of people were seated at the park and many were watching on giant LED screens outside.

5.Among the officials who shared the stage with the AAP ministers was Shakuntala Gamlin, the IAS officer whose promotion as acting Chief Secretary for 10 days by the Lieutenant Governor was a red rag to the Kejriwal government. She was seated next to Chief Secretary KK Sharma, who is back from his vacation.

6.The Chief Minister had described Ms Gamlin as a “lobbyist for power companies” and had said that Mr Jung has no right to appoint officers without his consent.

7.In retaliation, Mr Kejriwal sacked the officer who signed off on the Lieutenant Governor’s decision, and filled key posts with his preferred candidates. Mr Jung declared all the appointments void.

8.The AAP government has called a special two-day emergency session tomorrow to discuss what many believe is a constitutional crisis in the making, after the Centre issued a circular backing the Lieutenant Governor and saying that he is not obliged to consult the Delhi government on appointments.

9.AAP alleges that the ruling BJP is trying to govern Delhi through the Lieutenant Governor, who acts as the Centre’s representative in the capital and is vested with significant powers as Delhi is a Union Territory and not a full state.

10.Mr Kejriwal says Delhi must be granted full statehood as key departments like law and order and land are beyond the elected government’s jurisdiction.