'No conflict between PM and Kejriwal, it's about interpretation'

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday said that the Centre's differences with Arvind Kejriwal government were due to their different interpretation of the Constitution and the matter will be settled by court.

A day after the high Court termed as "suspect" the Centre's notification restricting powers of the state government, BJP President Amit Shah also sought to de-escalate the confrontation, saying Modi’s dispensation was never in a conflict with the Aam Aadmi Party government.

"It is not a confrontation but a matter of interpretation of the Constitution. The state government is doing it in one way and the Centre in another way. The matter will go to court and it will be settled there," he told reporters.

He was asked about the Centre's tussle with the Delhi government over jurisdiction issues and its alleged "mistreatment" at a time when it was going to town about its several measures to give more powers to states.

"It is not a question of mistreatment. It is a question of different interpretations of the Constitution," he said.

The Delhi high court had on Monday observed the Centre's recent notification barring Delhi government's anti-corruption branch from acting against its officers in criminal offences as "suspect" and held that it can act against officials. The order was a shot in the arm for AAP government.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said the verdict was a "huge embarrassment" for the Modi dispensation.

Image: BJP chief Amit Shah