Delhi BJP MLAs meet Rajnath to raise Lokayukta issue

New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta along with the other two BJP MLAs on Thursday met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to raise the issues of appointment of Lokayukta and recommendations of the Fourth Delhi Finance Commission.

Gupta along with O P Sharma and Jagdish Pradhan met Singh and told him that the post of Lokayukta in Delhi has been lying vacant from November 6, 2013, whereas the Constitution lays down that the post should not be kept vacant for more than six months.

"(This) is a serious threat to the much touted Kejriwal government's anti-corruption campaign. In the absence of Lokayukta, there is no fear among the corrupt officials in government offices.

"The BJP MLAs feel that the primary reason for non-appointment of Lokayukta is that an appointment will bring within its fold the cases of corrupt practices of more than two dozen MLAs," a statement from the Delhi BJP said.

It claimed that Singh assured the delegation that he will seek a report from Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung.

The BJP delegation also pointed out that the Fourth Finance Commission has not been placed in the Delhi Legislative Assembly despite strong and continuous demand of Mayors of three Municipalities. These bodies are facing severe financial crunch.

"If the Fourth Finance Commission is implemented, much of the financial problems of these local bodies could be settled. But the Kejriwal government wants that these three local bodies must always remain financially unviable so that bad name is brought to them and lead to political advantage to the Aam Adami Party," the statement said.