Modi vs Kejriwal on appointments 2.0: 9 AAP advisors sacked; 10 points

Arvind Kejriwal’s troubles see no end. A month after the Delhi High Court reinstated 20 AAP MLAs, who had been dismissed by the Election Commission, the Delhi government on Tuesday cancelled the appointment of nine advisors, including the one to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, after the Union Home Ministry said that these posts were “not sanctioned”. According to an order issued by General Administration Department of the Delhi government, the MHA had written in its letter that these posts on which the appointees are officiating are not in the list of posts approved for the ministers and the chief minister.

“No prior approval of the central government has been taken for creation of said posts on which these persons have been appointed on the co-terminus basis,” the order stated.

Dubbing Centre’s move a conspiracy against AAP, Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said, “In their hurry to sack our advisors, Modi government did not even check their facts. Four of the nine have already left long time back. One of them – Raghav Chadha worked with me in 2016 for two and half months only at Re 1/pm salary (i.e. total Re 2.5/-).

Among the nine advisors whose appointment has been cancelled are Amardeep Tiwari (media advisor to law minister), Arunodya Prakash (media advisor to deputy chief minister), Raghav Chadha (advisor to finance minister), Atishi Marlena (media advisor to deputy chief minister).

Top 10 developments on the sacking of AAP advisors, and reactions that follow

1. The nine include Atishi Marlena, the adviser to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who AAP says, was appointed on a token monthly salary of just Re 1 to help the government improve education standards at schools.

ALSO READ: Delhi govt cancels appointment of nine advisors

2. “No prior approval of the Central Government has been taken for creation of said posts on which these persons have been appointed on co-terminus basis, which is a requirement as per Home Ministry’s PM dated 3.9.1997,” the Home Ministry said in an order.

3. Raghav Chadha tweeted terms of his appointment: “Where exactly is the MHA sacking me from? Here are the terms of appointment for those who wish to see,” he tweeted. Raghav Chadha took Re 1 per month as salary from the Delhi government.

4. Modi government sacked AAP aides to divert attention: AAP spokesperson Raghav Chadha said, “Impressive diversionary tactics by the MHA, at the behest of BJP. To divert attention from spate of rapes, cash crunch etc, an opportune time to rake up non issues with AAP like retrospective sacking for a post I held for 45 days in 2016 for a paltry sum of Rs.2.50/.”