The Congress Party on Thursday alleged that Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia is abusing the bureaucracy and the constitutional authority of Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung with his remark that the officers were running 'transfer-posting industry' in Delhi.
"It is shocking that Sisodia, the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, calls transfer-posting an industry. Probably, he wanted to run an industry, but the LG of Delhi did not permit him. So, he must come clean on his intentions. If he wanted to run an industry, it is a sad state of affairs because that is not how an administration in Delhi is run," said Congress leader Tom Vadakkan.
"We advise him to be sober in his words. He is a man of certain stature and must be careful in what he says. He is not only abusing the bureaucracy, he is also abusing the constitutional authority of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi," he added.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also expressed similar sentiments on the issue and said that Sisodia should focus on governance instead of the tussle involving the Delhi Government, the Lieutenant Governor and the Centre.
"He should let go of the confrontational approach because Delhi can only be run through conciliation, not conflict," said R. P. Singh, the BJP's Councillor from Delhi.
Sisodia had earlier alleged that bureaucrats, who were running 'transfer-posting industry' during the tenure of the past governments, are talking about 'motivating' IAS officers after retirement.
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"It is very interesting. In Delhi, 'transfer-posting' is a big industry and we have stopped it in the last three months," said Sisodia.
"All the transfers we have done are on the basis of eligibility and have been carried out with full honesty. This is why people are opposing us," he added.
His comments come in the backdrop of the Delhi IAS Officers' Association resolution yesterday urging Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to create a conducive atmosphere where officers can function in a free and impartial manner.
Sisodia had yesterday written to the Lieutenant Governor asking him under what provisions of the Constitution he was issuing directions to the AAP Government.
Jung had earlier reiterated that his executive powers gave him the authority over administering the affairs of the capital city vis-a-vis the authority and powers to be exercised by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal under the Constitution.
In his letter, Jung had written that he had 'constitutional power to do transfers and postings'.