AAP targets Dikshit over cooperative bank scam

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 18

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today targeted former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit who has said that Delhi had “some of the most efficient” bureaucrats following Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s remarks that 90 per cent IAS officers do not work.

Targeting Dikshit over allegations of corruption in a local cooperative bank, the AAP said the veteran Congress leader was allegedly shielding Chief Secretary MM Kutty on the issue as it related to her tenure.

AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed she was coming out in support of Kutty since he was serving as her Principal Secretary when the alleged irregularity over appointments and promotions took place in Delhi Nagrik Sehkari Bank Ltd.

Dikshit yesterday came out in support of bureaucrats in the Delhi administration, saying that it has "some of the most efficient" bureaucrats, responding to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's attack against the ‘babus’ over their "laxity".

"A panel of the Delhi Assembly has been seeking accountability from the Chief Secretary and other bureaucrats over the irregularities in the appointments and promotions in the bank. When that is being done, why is Sheila Dikshit so concerned? "The reason behind Dikshit praising officers is abundantly clear. They are evading accountability for a scam committed right under her nose, when she was the Chief Minister," Bharadwaj said.

When contacted, Diskhit said she did not defend any particular officer.

"My comments were not related to any specific officer, but the entire bureaucracy. If they have anything (proof) against any officer, then action should be taken," she said.

Bharadwaj said the Delhi Assembly committee had questioned Kutty over the bank scam and had directed him to take action against some of his subordinates.

"He (Kutty) has not only failed to respond to the committee, but there is no communication from him about the action he had been directed to take," Bharadwaj said.