Both AAP, BJP to blame for Delhi crisis: Congress
New Delhi, June 18: The Congress on Monday blamed both the BJP-led Central government and Delhi's ruling AAP for the rift between the IAS officers and the Delhi government.
"If the relation between the government of Delhi and the bureaucracy is not satisfactory, we feel that it is not only the Central government but (Delhi Chief Minister Arvind) Kejriwal is also equally responsible," senior Congress leader P.C. Chacko Chacko told media here.
The IAS officials and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government are in face off after the alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash in February by two AAP legislators at the Chief Minister's residence in presence of Kejriwal.
Following this, IAS officers in Delhi were not attending routine meetings called by the Ministers and the Chief Minister.
Kejriwal on Sunday assured the officers of their safety and security and urged them to "return to work" and attend ministers' meetings.
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Right to vote under threat, must be made fundamental right: Cong's Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged on Thursday that the right to vote is under threat and the time has come when it should be made a fundamental right for citizens.
Speaking with reporters, Ramesh lashed out at Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, saying the Election Commission (EC) has never been as compromised as it has been under him.
"The rot started under his predecessor. This man is a player and not a neutral observer," the Congress leader said, slamming Kumar.
Kumar is completely compromised and has become a player in elections, he alleged.
"Home Minister Amit Shah had talked about three Ds -- detect, delete and deport. So we want to know how many non-Indian citizens have been detected, how many have been deleted and how many have been deported," Ramesh said, adding that the right to vote is now under threat.
On opposition parties submitting a fresh notice in the Rajya Sabha, seeking to move a motion for the CEC's removal, the Congress leader said they will continue to make efforts for Kumar's removal as he is "compromised".
Ramesh also batted for the right to vote to be recognised as a fundamental right.
"I believe that the time has come that the right to vote should be made a fundamental right. It is a statutory right, it is not a fundamental right. Fundamental rights are justiciable," he said.
The former Union minister said this was discussed in the Constituent Assembly, but it was eventually decided that it should be made part of the Constitution.
B R Ambedkar and Jagjivan Ram had warned that in the future, governments might try to disenfranchise voters, he added.
"Once and for all, include the right to vote as a fundamental right for Indian citizens," Ramesh asserted.
