NEW DELHI: Two days after a Supreme Court bench expressed that both - Delhi government and Centre -- should sit together and resolve the disputes and give good governance, the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in order to resolve the center and state conflict pointing out that a "little open mindedness" would be help full.
Referring to Supreme Court's observation regarding confrontation between the two sides, he said: “Now when the apex court has also expressed its concern about the state of affairs, I would urge that we should resolve these differences in the interest of people of Delhi. I assure you that I shall be more than willing to walk an extra mile in this direction,” Kejriwal said in his letter.
He further pointed out that he agrees with the sentiments expressed by the bench of the Supreme Court.
In the letter, Kejriwal said Delhi's development has been hit by the fissures between the two sides and that there should be no reason why the two "well-meaning" governments cannot resolve their differences.
Kejriwal further sought intervention in resolving the "unprecedented" situation arising due to differences between his government and the center.
Putting it up front the Aam Aadmi Party convener said that he was ready to go the "extra mile" for sake of the Delhi's development.
“I, for one, have made all possible efforts to resolve the situation. I have personally met all the concerned ministers of Government of India, and also approached the Lieutenant Governor, several times in this direction,” said the letter.
Expressing his discomfort with the tussle with Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, he said “There are so many things which have happened during the past seven months that have never happened in 23 years of the democratic tradition in Delhi. In the last six months, several orders of elected government of Delhi have been declared void by Lieutenant Governor for the first time," he said.
Kejriwal alleged that the Anti-Corruption Branch of Delhi government has been "usurped" by the Lt Governor through an executive order depriving the government of its primary tool to combat corruption.
“I have no doubt that had appropriate cooperation been received from Government of India and the Lieutenant Governor, the progress of Delhi during the same period would have been much more,” said Kejriwal. In the end hoping to resolve the differences, Kejriwal said he made sincere efforts to resolve the difference but did not succeed.