AAP guns for Jung

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 12

The Aam Aadmi Party today lashed out at former Lt Governor Najeeb Jung in the wake of the allegations and remarks made by him during a TV interview that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal may face “criminal charges”, including cheating, nepotism and gross favouritism” on the basis of the findings of the Shunglu Commission, set up by Jung to examine over 400 files on decisions taken by the AAP government.

In this regard, AAP Cabinet minister Satyendar Jain, who had been at loggerheads with Jung over a range of issues, including the suspension of bureaucrats and foreign visits by AAP ministers among others, denied allegations of “nepotism” against him.

Jain lashed out at the former Lt Governor accusing him of “settling scores” by levelling “baseless charges” in view of the upcoming Punjab polls.

The AAP minister claimed his daughter Saumya was never appointed by the city government to any position and she had just worked as a volunteer in a mohalla clinic project. Jung said that the CBI has registered an FIR in the matter.

He accused Jung of “lying” over the case involving Nikunj Aggarwal, a relative of Kejriwal’s wife. He said Aggarwal was never sent on a trip to China as claimed by Jung.

“All his allegations are nothing but based on lies. His (Nikunj Aggarwal’s) passport can be checked to see whether he went to China or not. As far as Saumya is concerned, she was never appointed and was working as a volunteer. She did not take any money,” Jain told reporters.

Reacting to remarks by Lt Governor, AAP Delhi unit convener Dilip Pandey said the Centre can use various investigative agencies under its control to probe the allegations.

Jung had said Kejriwal may face “criminal charges” over alleged irregularities found by the Shunglu Commission in the decisions taken by the AAP government, alleging “nepotism and gross favouritism”.

Jung also alleged that Kejriwal had set up a “secret unit” like a “counter-IB” for suspected spying while noting that following the Shunglu panel’s observations pertaining to alleged corruption by the AAP government, he had referred 7-8 cases to the CBI while in some cases FIRs have been registered and dozen other cases are with the CVC.

Pandey lashed out at the BJP over the sanitation workers’ strike in the East MCD for non-payment of their salaries, saying that the AAP government is being attacked for not implementing the Fourth Finance Commission while its own Centre is not showing any inclinations towards implementing it.

“Delhi government had tabled the Commission recommendations in the Assembly, we have even said we are in favour of completely implementing them, but the Central government showed no interest in implementing its part. While demanding the implementation of the report, the BJP conveniently forgets that the Centre is to give the government share of revenue,” Pandey said.