Giving in to the lieutenant governor’s assertion, the Aam Aadmi Party government on Thursday sent him a file on appointment of Swati Maliwal as chief of Delhi Commission for Women, two days after he struck down its decision for not taking his approval.
After a meeting with LG Najeeb Jung, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said government has sent the file relating to Maliwal’s appointment to LG for clearance but added it was done so to “stop the conspiracy to weaken the panel”.
“Modi government made the DCW completely inactive. A new chief was appointed and attempts were being made to make a new beginning from a fresh perspective. But issue is being made out of a signature.
“Nameplate is being removed. But we don’t consider this to be an issue. That is why we have given the file to LG for his signature so that the conspiracy to weaken the panel can be stopped,” Sisodia told reporters.
On Tuesday, Jung had declared Maliwal’s appointment null and void, saying it did not have legal sanctity and was in violation of constitutional provisions.
However, a defiant AAP government on Wednesday refused to comply with LG’s order striking down her appointment, notwithstanding his assertion that the ‘government’ meant the LG in Delhi.
Earlier on Thursday, Maliwal claimed that her office had been locked down but hours later it was found open though her name plate was removed. Maliwal also claimed that all files had been taken away from her office.
“Why was my office locked and why was my name plate and that of other members removed from the DCW office.... I will work for the cause of women and will make DCW the strongest in the world,” the 30-year-old activist said in the morning.
Later, her office at Vikas Sadan in ITO locality was found open but her name plate was removed.
When asked about the office being open contrary to her claims, she said her staff had gone to the office in the morning and found it locked.
“It could have been opened later may be due to media pressure or any other reason. But it was locked in the morning. Since we were told we cannot sign any files, in a way the commission closed down,” she said.
The deputy CM also accused the Centre of “attempting to weaken” the AAP government’s fight against corruption.
“Delhi government’s anti-corruption branch was working with full vigour but as it started getting success a new chief was appointed illegally. Rumours were spread that the ACB was going to lodge an FIR against a union minister,” said Sisodia.
On functioning of the Anti-Corruption Brance, he said it was part of the Delhi government as per allocation of business rules.
“Modi-led Centre has probe agencies like Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate. But it is not being able to use them in cases like ‘Lalitgate’ or Vyapam. And they talk of running ACB.
“Modi is taking revenge on people of Delhi as they defeated them. Gujarat model of anti-corruption or CBI won’t work here. Keep control of police but not for controlling ACB,” Sisodia said.
Referring to an incident of an SDM catching two DDA officials for allegedly taking bribe, Sisodia claimed police and ACB refused to lodge FIR against the official.
“The new ACB chief has made the agency dysfunctional... SDM has full powers to arrest in case of such offences but the local police and ACB refused to lodge any FIR. Even police vigilance refused. Then where will the government go in such cases? We catch them and they release them,” he alleged.
On appointment of Maliwal, he said the Delhi government has plans to improve women safety and the DCW has a role to play in this regard.
“We are not making this an issue as government is more concerned about women’s safety,” said Sisodia.
