Assembly resolution: Panel to probe LG role in ration licence restoration

Ananya Panda

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 9

Delhi Assembly today first passed a resolution for setting up a special inquiry committee against Lt Governor Najeeb Jung for probing the alleged irregularities in restoration of cancelled licence of a fair price shop in Burari followed by the passage of another motion demanding an FIR under SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in connection with an alleged assault on newly elected Aam Aadmi Party-backed councillor Rakesh Kumar during the BJP-ruled MCD's open session at Ramlila Grounds.

Both the motions were boycotted by the two cornered Opposition MLAs - Vijender Gupta and Jagdish Pradhan--- who staged a walk-out describing the probe into Jung's role in allotment of the ration shop "politically motivated" and alleging "bias" on the part of Speaker Ram Niwas Goel.

Interestingly, the special session of Delhi Assembly called by the Kejriwal government to discuss alleged corruption mismanagement in city's municipal corporations was instead dominated by AAP MLAs targeting the Lt Governor (LG) who in turn reacted by quoting a couplet of Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, and underlined in a statement stating that he restored the licence as an "appellate authority" after "hearing all sides". 

This apart from the ruling party MLAs' claims of attack on the councillor Rakesh Kumar, who was elected as an independent from the ward in Matia Mahal constituency, being inspired by "anti-dalit" sentiment of the BJP front in particular kept the House on boil before it passed a resolution "directing" the Delhi Police Commissioner to lodge an FIR in the matter and take up the matter with President Pranab Mukherjee on which the government will seek an appointment.

The motion, which was moved by Ambedkar Nagar legislator Ajay Dutt and seconded by Malviya Nagar MLA Somnath Bharti, demanded registration of an FIR under the relevant sections of IPC and SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against those involved in the attack referring to a video footage related to the attack first raised by Rajouri Garden MLA Jarnail Singh.

Under special mention 280, Burari MLA Sanjeev Jha accused Jung of indulging in corruption saying the Lt Governor restored the licence after the owner of the shop approached him.

He demanded a discussion on the same in the House and appropriate ruling from the Speaker following which Goel allowed the same.

Rs 12-lakh bribe alleged

Alleging a bribe exchange of Rs 12 lakh, Jha questioned the powers of the LG and said, "... restored the licence even as he has no powers. Jung did this under section 30 (d) to extend favour to a corrupt ration shop owner whose licence was cancelled last year and is liable for punishment under IPC 420 and 109."

A resolution for the same was moved by ruling party MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj who later amended it after Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta and Jagdish Pradhan objected to the move and Pradhan opted out of the nine-member inquiry panel.

The BJP opposed the resolution claiming the move smacks of "political vendetta" with Gupta- who earlier had put up a notice demanding a discussion on alleged corruption in Delhi government's app-based premium bus scheme but was refused- adding that the AAP dispensation-led House is not above the constitution accused the Speaker of acting "partisan".

"This House agrees: That a Special Inquiry Committee to probe alleged irregularity in restoration of a cancelled licence of a ration shop M/s Janata Provision Store located in Sant Nagar area, Burari, be constituted," read the resolution.

The said committee comprises nine ruling party legislators- Vishesh Ravi, Somnath Bharti, Amanatullah Khan, Rajesh Gupta, Rajendra Pal Gautam, Madan Lal, Nitin Tyagi, Narayan Dutt Sharma and Bhavna Gaur, whose name was added replacing Pradhan.    Sources said Guatam might chair the committee but a decision regarding this is yet to be taken.