Centre deliberately misinterpreting SC verdict: Sisodia
New Delhi, Aug 9 : Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday accused the Centre of "misinterpreting" the Supreme Court verdict on the Delhi government's powers vis-a-vis the Lt Governor whom he dubbed a "pawn".
Holding a copy of the Constitution of India in his hand in the Assembly, Sisodia compared the central government with the British Raj.
Sisodia said that the Centre shouldn't misinterpret the Constitution because that is how the British were kicked out and the "L-G may be sacked too".
Addressing the Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Vijender Gupta, Sisodia said: "According to the Constitution and the apex court order, your pawn (L-G) does not have any independent decision-making powers. He should only act on the aid and advice of the state government."
Sisodia, a senior Aam Aadmi Party leader, claimed that just as the British thought they were indestructible, the Centre too is thinking so by "openly defying the Supreme Court orders".
The 5-Judge Constitution Bench on July 4 ruled that the executive powers in Delhi -- except for law and order, police and land -- were vested with the elected government and the L-G was bound to act on the "aid and advise" of the government.
Lt Governor Anil Baijal, however, kept the 'services' subject with him by citing a 2015 Home Ministry notification which, in turn, referred to the constitutional provisions to keep 'Services' out of the Delhi government's purview.
The Services Department handles posting and transfers, and the appointments of IAS and other officers with the Delhi government.
Terming 'services' as the most crucial element in the smooth governance of Delhi, Sisodia cited examples from the past when he claimed Baijal "deliberately obstructed" the Aam Aadmi Party government's work.
"We had (come up with) a loan scheme to help over 400 students in their education, but the L-G waived it by telling us to take permission from other departments," Sisodia said on the fourth day of the Assembly's monsoon session.
Similarly, he said, the L-G made one or the other excuse regarding the Arvind Kejriwal government's Mohalla Clinics project, delaying it by 101 days, and the funds for the families of martyrs by telling the government to get permission from the Home and Defence Ministries.
Sisodia also presented the first batch of supplementary demands for grants for 2018-19. These were later approved by the Assembly.
These include grant of Rs 104 crore for General Administration Department, Rs 20 crore for administration of justice, Rs 4.34 crore for social welfare, and Rs 4.75 crore for development.
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Need Karnataka-type law in Maharashtra to stop diversion of social justice dept funds: Athawale
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, May 15 (PTI): Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Thursday said diversion of funds from the social justice department should not happen and asserted Maharashtra must have a law like that in Karnataka to prohibit such actions.
Earlier this month, Maharashtra Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat had expressed displeasure and accused the Ajit Pawar-led Finance Department of high-handedness in what he termed as illegal diversion of funds from his department without his knowledge.
He had acknowledged that the state was facing financial constraints due to the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana under which eligible women were entitled to monthly aid of Rs 1,500.
Shirsat had said the state government should shut the Social Justice Department instead of periodic diversion of allocated funds.
Shirsat cited a law to state that of the Rs 2.5 lakh crore budget, the social justice department should get a share of 11.8 per cent or around Rs 29,500 crore. However, his department received only Rs 22,658 crore, Shirsat added.
Queried on Shirsat alleging diversion of funds from his department, Athawale said, "This kind of fund diversion should not happen. The Karnataka government has such a rule that the funds allocated for the poor should not be diverted. A similar law should be framed in Maharashtra."
The southern state had passed the Karnataka Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan and Tribal Sub Plan (Planning, Allocation and Utilisation and Financial Resources) Act, 2013 for effective implementation of the budget for SCs and STs. The law makes such allocated funds non-divertible.
When asked about speculation of a merger of the NCP factions led by Sharad Pawar and his estranged nephew and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Athawale said he will welcome it if this were to happen.
"Ajit Pawar has joined the NDA, but Sharad Pawar is opposed to it. If Sharad Pawar can align with Shiv Sena (UBT), why can't he consider BJP," Athawale questioned.
When asked about the possibility of a reunion between estranged cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, Athawale said, "I don't think they will come together as they have differences. If they come together, Congress will not accept Raj Thackeray in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)."
He also appealed to Dalit leaders to come together on a single platform for the welfare of the community.
"If that happens, I will not care for my ministerial post," said the Union minister, who is president of Republic Party of India (Athawale).
