On March 13, 2015, the Arvind Kejriwal government had passed an order appointing the 21 AAP legislators as Parliamentary Secretaries.
New Delhi:
With folded hands Delhi Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi yet again over his government's "office of profit" bill being rejected by the President, a decision that has put on line the fate of 21 Aam Aadmi Party lawmakers who he had appointed as parliamentary secretaries.
"Modiji, I appeal to you with folded hands...Your fight is with me. Beat me if you wish, but do not harass the people of Delhi," Mr Kejriwal said at a press conference on Wednesday evening, linking the latest setback to his ongoing wrangles with the Centre.
The BJP has said it's Mr Kejriwal's "frustration speaking." The party's Ramesh Bidhuri said dismissively, "Arvind Kejriwal has a phobia. His frustration is speaking. He has done unconstitutional work. It's his habit, he does this every time he does this."
The BJP's Delhi lawmaker Vijendra Gupta accused Mr Kejriwal of "running away from the press conference after saying what he wanted" and has demanded the chief minister's resignation.
The Delhi government had passed the bill last year to protect the 21 MLAs from a law that disallows elected members from holding offices of profit. Mr Kejriwal argues that his parliamentary secretaries hold no office of profit since they do not draw salary or perks in that role.
The BJP and the Congress have demanded that the AAP lawmakers be disqualified and fresh elections be held for their seats.
The 21 AAP legislators are the Delhi government's "eyes, ears and hands," Mr Kejriwal said today, accusing the opposition parties of double standards since their previous governments in Delhi too had appointed parliamentary secretaries.
"It is okay when the BJP does it. But when the AAP does it, it becomes unconstitutional," said Mr Kejriwal, also pointing out that his predecessor, Sheila Dikshit had appointed Ajay Maken, now the Congress' Delhi chief, as her Parliamentary Secretary when she was chief minister.
"How can AAP justify 21 Parliament Secretaries," asked Ajay Maken, adding, "AAP should rename their party the Khas Aadmi Party (party of VIPs)."
"Modiji, I appeal to you with folded hands...Your fight is with me. Beat me if you wish, but do not harass the people of Delhi," Mr Kejriwal said at a press conference on Wednesday evening, linking the latest setback to his ongoing wrangles with the Centre.
The BJP has said it's Mr Kejriwal's "frustration speaking." The party's Ramesh Bidhuri said dismissively, "Arvind Kejriwal has a phobia. His frustration is speaking. He has done unconstitutional work. It's his habit, he does this every time he does this."
The BJP's Delhi lawmaker Vijendra Gupta accused Mr Kejriwal of "running away from the press conference after saying what he wanted" and has demanded the chief minister's resignation.
The Delhi government had passed the bill last year to protect the 21 MLAs from a law that disallows elected members from holding offices of profit. Mr Kejriwal argues that his parliamentary secretaries hold no office of profit since they do not draw salary or perks in that role.
The BJP and the Congress have demanded that the AAP lawmakers be disqualified and fresh elections be held for their seats.
The 21 AAP legislators are the Delhi government's "eyes, ears and hands," Mr Kejriwal said today, accusing the opposition parties of double standards since their previous governments in Delhi too had appointed parliamentary secretaries.
"It is okay when the BJP does it. But when the AAP does it, it becomes unconstitutional," said Mr Kejriwal, also pointing out that his predecessor, Sheila Dikshit had appointed Ajay Maken, now the Congress' Delhi chief, as her Parliamentary Secretary when she was chief minister.
"How can AAP justify 21 Parliament Secretaries," asked Ajay Maken, adding, "AAP should rename their party the Khas Aadmi Party (party of VIPs)."
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