NEW DELHI: CPI today came out in support of the AAP-led Delhi government in the row over the appointment of Shakuntala Gamlin as acting chief secretary, saying that the NDA dispensation was using the office of Lieutenant Governor as a "tool" to undermine its authority.
Terming the decision to appoint Gamlin as a reflection of of Narendra Modi government's "authoritarian" nature, the Left party said the the Centre had no right to encroach upon the powers of states.
"The Union government has little regard for minimum norms of federalism.
The central leaders believe that they can go to any extent to interfere in the administrative process of the state governments.
"While the constitution has stipulated the powers of central and state governments, Modi dispensation has no right to violate those provisions... The CPI calls upon all democratic forces to rally up to resist such kind of high handedness on the part of the NDA government," CPI General Secretary Sudhakar Reddy said in a statement.
He said Union Minister Kiren Rijiju's accusation that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal insulted northeastern people by criticising Gamlin is "an attempt to divert attention from main issue of misuse of Union government powers".
Kejriwal had yesterday accused Gamlin of trying to favour two Reliance Infra-owned discoms through a Rs 11,000-crore loan. He had also alleged that the Narendra Modi government wants the AAP dispensation to "fail".
Reddy, however, added that one can certainly demand the Delhi Chief Minister to substantiate his allegations against Gamlin.