New Delhi: Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has "approved" norms to facilitate contribution of funds by Delhi MLAs from the MLA Local Area Development scheme for relief and rehabilitation of flood affected people in Jammu and Kashmir, his office said on Friday, hours after AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal accused Jung of objecting to the fund transfer.
In a release, Jung's office said that he had on September 17 approved that under the MLA Local Area Development Scheme, the MLAs can contribute to the LG/CM relief fund for the victims of natural calamities, especially in the context floods in Jammu and Kashmir.
The release was issued hours after former chief minister Kejriwal accused Jung of "objecting" to a request by 27 AAP legislators to donate Rs 20 lakh each for relief and rescue operations in flood-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir.
In a series of tweets, Kejriwal said the party had learnt from its sources that Jung had raised an objection to the fund transfer.
"27 MLAs of AAP wrote to Delhi govt to transfer Rs 20 lakhs from each MLA's funds to J&K CM fund. Sources- LG has objected to it. Why?"
"Last year, Rs 10 lakhs from each MLAs funds were transferred for Uttarakhand flood relief. Then why an objection this year?" Kejriwal tweeted.
The AAP MLAs had decided to donate Rs 20 lakh each from the MLALAD scheme for relief and rescue operations in flood-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir.
Accordingly, the party had written to the Delhi government to transfer the funds to Jammu and Kashmir CM fund.
The LG's office said as per guidelines of the Delhi MLA Local Area Development Scheme, the amount can be released only on the request of the concerned MLA.
"The Lt Governor has asked the Department of Urban Development to immediately convey the decision of the Government to the MLAs and seek their willingness for making contribution to this noble cause. The amount will be credited to the LG/CM Relief Fund," it said.
