Delhi BJP today decided to launch a "massive agitation" to demand removal of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit after a local court ordered registration of an FIR against her for allegedly misusing government funds for a 2008 pre-Assembly poll advertisement campaign.
"The Chief Minister must resign and if she is not ready to do so, Congress party must sack her. Her continuation is against the basic norms of governance.
"She has been clearly indicted by the Lokayukta for misuse of public funds and then the court put a stamp of approval on this by ordering registration of an FIR," Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel and former chief of the party's Delhi unit, Vijender Gupta, said at a joint press conference.
A city court had yesterday ordered registration of an FIR against Dikshit on a complaint filed by Gupta in which he alleged that she had misused government funds to the tune of Rs 22.56 crore in an advertisement campaign ahead of the 2008 Assembly polls.
"Her continuation in this post is a gross violation of all norms and traditions of governance.
"Dikshit is the first Chief Minister of Delhi to have faced such serious charges. BJP will launch a massive agitation if Dikshit does not step down or is not removed," Goel and Gupta said.
The two leaders said that a delegation of Delhi BJP will meet President Pranab Mukherjee and Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung to press for Dikshit's sacking if she was not removed by her party within 24 hours.
Gupta said he had sought registration of an FIR against Dikshit and others for alleged criminal breach of trust (IPC Section 409), criminal misappropriation of public funds and criminal misconduct under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
