Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed fears on Monday that the Delhi Lieutenant Governor and prime minister's office were plotting to arrest his deputy by implicating him in a false case before next year's crucial Punjab polls, deepening a discord between the governments in the city and the Centre.

Kejriwal alleged that a committee set up by L-G Najeeb Jung to examine key decisions of the AAP government since it took power in February 2015 was looking to frame deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia. "PMO/LG target Manish through Shunglu. Plan to arrest Manish," the CM tweeted.



The Delhi High Court said in August that the lieutenant governor is the administrative head of the Capital and the state government must consult him on all decisions. Following this, Jung formed the three member panel - comprising former Comptroller and Auditor General V K Shunglu, former Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami and former Chief Vigilance Commissioner Pradeep Kumar - to scan files to check "irregularities" and "infirmities" in Delhi government decisions.

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JUNG'S COMMITTEE IS ILLEGAL: AAP

The AAP government has called the committee "illegal" and "unconstitutional". While the panel has not made its findings public, the CM says his sources have told him that it is trying to frame Sisodia in a false case. "The PMO and LG are making grounds to arrest Manish Sisodia before Punjab elections. Shunglu committee is deliberately trying to implicate Sisodia," Kejriwal said.

AAP is hoping to win next year's Punjab elections with the state's SAD-BJP government facing anti-incumbency and charges of corruption. Kejriwal did not specify the case in which Sisodia is being framed, but said his party is ready to face anything as already many AAP MLAs have been put behind bars over the past few months.

"You just have to write two lines based on which a case can be filed. 15 AAP MLAs have already been arrested. The court has rapped the Centre for arresting the MLAs. Despite that they are continuing with such tactics," the CM claimed.

AFTER AAP?

The chief minister also alleged that a complaint of cheating related to VK Shunglu's election as chairman of the DPS Society was pending with the Lt Governor for 18 months. "In May 2015, a complaint against him was sent to the LG's office and the Centre. Instead of taking action, the Centre and L-G called him and asked him to implicate the AAP government and in return, they will save him," Kejriwal alleged.

According to sources, in the report, the Shunglu committee has pointed out several instances of violations of laid down rules and procedures by the AAP government in taking major decisions. The L-G's office is currently examining the report and is expected to take decisions accordingly. The committee had divided the cases into three categories.

The first category is where refinement of decisions made is possible. The second category relates to irregularities that cannot be corrected, hence terming them illegal. The third category is of appointment of officers and "arbitrary" selection of advisers and lawyers at high salaries. The battle between Jung and Kejriwal stems from Delhi's unique position as a union territory doubling as the Capital where both the L-G and police department report to the central home ministry and the local government has no say over several important departments.

The AAP, which romped to power winning 67 of the Capital's 70 assembly seats in last year's polls, has been at loggerheads with Jung after he appointed several senior bureaucrats against the wishes of the chief minister and overruled many Delhi government picks.

Kejriwal also termed the Centre's demonetisation scheme a flop and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's arrogance and obstinacy has pushed the country 10 years back and that the measure has failed to curb black money, corruption, circulation of counterfeit currency and terror financing.