Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta
The Delhi BJP today termed AAP government's decision of not calling off inquiry into the CNG fitness scam despite Centre declaring it illegal as "retrogressive and said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was "stubborn" in not accepting the special position of the national capital.
"The Home Minister has already clarified that the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) is not competent to set up such an inquiry under various provisions of the Constitution and the Commission's of Inquiry Act -1952.
"It is absolutely against the letter and the spirit of the Constitution of India that a State Government should dare the Central Government to go to the Court for implementation of Constitutional Authority's order," Leader of Opposition in Delhi Legislative Assembly Vijendra Gupta said.
Last week, the MHA declared Delhi Government-constituted Commission of Inquiry to probe into the alleged CNG fitness scam "legally invalid and void".
Mr Gupta also said setting up an inquiry panel to probe the CNG fitness case despite the Ministry of Home Affairs calling it illegal is against the constitution.
AAP had reacted sharply to it alleging that the Centre was trying to protect the "corrupt".
Mr Gupta, also a senior BJP leader lashed out at deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia for showing "ill-placed audacity" to assert that a Court alone and not the Home Ministry can cancel Delhi Government inquiry into the CNG fitness scam.
"On the orders of the Lt Governor, the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) is looking into the entire matter afresh. It has issued notices to all concerned, including government officers named in the original complaint. He (LG) stressed that ACB has been asked to complete the inquiry on priority basis. It will undoubtedly reach bottom of the matter and ensure that culprits are brought to book," Mr Gupta said.
The BJP leader said the Delhi Government has shown scant regard for the office of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as it has gone against her advice within a day. He was referring to Speaker's mention of "special circumstances of Delhi".
"She (Mahajan) advocated a balanced approach between the Centre and the State. She had only yesterday pointed about the delicate relationship between Centre and Delhi due to Delhi's Special position," Mr Gupta added.