Kejriwal ignores threats from Centre, moves ahead to strengthen Delhi ACB

Asserts aim to make Delhi first corruption-free state even as MHA not to pay salaries of cops brought from other states

With the Delhi government and the Centre again at loggerheads now over Delhi's Anti Corruption Bureau being manned by cops from other states, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today thanked Bihar chief Minister Nitish Kumar for deputing Bihar police officials to the ACB. Kejriwal in a series of tweets said, "We are fully committed to making Delhi, India's first corruption free state. We hope central govt will also support our efforts."

Kejriwal even added a timely reminder urging the Lt Governor to expedite Delhi police to send them police officials. "We had sought some officers from Delhi police about a month back. We hope Hon'ble LG will direct Delhi police to send them soon." He also informed that the government was also in talks with other states.

 

Kejriwal's assertions came even as the Ministry of Home Affairs threatened not to pay the salaries of these officials, Delhi government sources said the Kejriwal government had decided to foot the salaries of these officials in such a scenario.

 

The Delhi chief minister's tweets came hours after Bihar CM Nitish Kumar told reporters in Patna that he did not understand why the Centre was making such a fuss over the issue while lauding Kejriwal's anti- corruption efforts. "Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had requested me for officials for strengthening anti-corruption unit in Delhi following which I sent the policemen to Delhi for the purpose". "Its normal that one state helps another". Adding, "I do not know why the Union government is making a hue and cry over the issue of fighting corruption."

AAP party leaders today reiterated their charges against the BJP-led Centre of being scared of a strengthened Delhi ACB. "This is the reason they do not want to give us full statehood. So, that corrupt municipal bodies can continue to do things at will," party MLA Jarnail Singh alleged. "The fact may not be a new revelation to many but it has finally established the unholy nexus of BJP leaders with touts.... Delhi government has been working from day one of its installation to uproot the politician-tout nexus in the state and it is unfortunate that the biggest stumble block has been the Centre in this initiative," he added.