Swati Maliwal's appointment as chief of Delhi Commission for Women has been accepted by the Lt Governor
An appointment made by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been approved by Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung days after the two went head to head on it and exchanged a series of sharp letters. Swati Maliwal's appointment as chief of the Delhi Commission for Women was endorsed by Mr Jung today.
Last week, Mr Jung had rejected the appointment of Ms Maliwal, an activist and the wife of an Aam Aadmi Party leader, calling it a breach of rules. His scathing letter to the Delhi Government said that the AAP government had no right to make the appointment and he "constitutionally valid and consistent definition of 'Government' is the Lieutenant Governor."
Ms Maliwal, 30, alleged that on Mr Jung's orders, her office was locked, her nameplate removed and she had been asked not to sign on files.
In a written response to the Lieutenant Governor, Mr Kejriwal pointed out that he is the elected leader of Delhi and that Mr Jung works as the "puppet" of the PM.
Mr Jung then hit back with a stinging reply criticizing Mr Kejriwal for "inappropriate references" to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He asserted that it was "not the intent of this office to negate the position" of Mr Kejriwal and that he was merely pointing out that he functions as the Centre's representative in Delhi, which is a union territory.
He said the Chief Minister must respect the obligation to consult him for important appointments.
Since AAP took power in February after a massive victory in Delhi polls, Mr Kejriwal and the Lieutenant Governor have bickered several times over who controls Delhi and has the right to make appointments. Mr Jung wrote in his letter to the Chief Minister: "You and I should not look back at this moment when you have won such a massive mandate, and see it as a wasted opportunity..."