It was a 3-minute meeting of 4 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Members of legislative assembly (MLA) with Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal which led to another round of tug of war between Raj Niwas and AAP led Delhi government. This time, MLA choose Raj Niwas and ‘occupy’ conference hall illegally seeking time to meet and get a reply from LG over alleged delay in clearing files related to Mohalla clinics.
The matter was started around 2:30 pm on Wednesday when AAP MLA and ex-minister Saurabh Bharadwaj got an appointment to meet LG along with 4 MLAs.
“Saurabh Bhardwaj was to be accompanied by 4 other MLAs in his delegation, as promised and confirmed by him. However, a delegation of nearly 45 MLAs headed by Sh. Saurabh Bhardwaj assembled in front of Raj Niwas and demanded to meet the LG. The LG, despite his scheduled Court hearings at 3 pm, agreed to meet the entire delegation in his Conference Hall even though it was already past 2.50 pm,” LG office said alleging that MLAs have occupied the conference hall of Raj Niwas.
“We have been asking LG to sort out the issue of Mohalla clinic. Call all officers handling files related to Mohalla Clinic and sort out the issue today itself which is pending since last two years,” Saurabh said through Facebook live sitting in the conference hall.
The issue which has triggered a direct clash between AAP MLAs and LG was started after BJP and Congress alleged that No transparent method to select premises for Mohalla Clinic. Congress Delhi chief also alleged in his complaint to the LG that Rent of premises were given on higher than market rent and Premises of party workers were rented out showing conflict of interest.
LG asked Delhi government Vigilance department to probe the allegation and file a report. According to the government, vigilance department deliberately delaying the file and also LG directed vigilance department not to show the file to concern minister.
“File related to in-principle approval of Mohalla clinics was sent for approval of LG in May 2017. LG returned the file in July to Vigilance Department with a complaint from Ajay Maken seeking Government's reply on the same. Obviously, Ajay Maken's complaint did not have any merit and was politically motivated. Vigilance Minister, Manish Sisodia, tried to expedite the enquiry. However, the Chief Secretary and Vigilance Secretary refused to show file to him saying that they had been directed by Hon'ble LG not to put up any vigilance related file before the minister,” Saurabh said.