Delhi crisis shows failure of governance, says ex Delhi chief secy -Governance Now

Delhi crisis shows failure of governance, says ex Delhi chief secy

Umesh Sehgal, former chief secretary of Delhi, feels that instead of creating a void Kejriwal should bridge the gaps

Deexa Khanduri | June 14, 2018 | Delhi

#Manish Sisodia #Anil Baijal #lieutenant governor #AAPvsLG #Delhi chief secretary #Umesh Sehgal #Arvind Kejriwal #AAP

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal along with his cabinet ministers inside LG residence (Photo: Twitter/AAP)

The tussle between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and lieutenant governor of Delhi Anil Baijal has entered into its fourth day on Thursday. With no immediate solution to the ongoing ego-tussle, citizens are the mute sufferers.

Umesh Sehgal, former chief secretary of Delhi, feels that instead of creating a void, Kejriwal should bridge the gaps. “The ruling government is an idealist and lacks experience in understanding the real situation of the state. When AAP framed its manifestoes it did not realise that its promises can’t be fulfilled. Unlike other states, Delhi government doesn’t have direct influence over the land, police and many administrative decisions. National capital needs a cooperation between the lieutenant governor, the chief secretary and the chief minister. There are compromises in the power and AAP is in constant denial mode to accept it,” says Sehgal.

Since June 11 chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and half of his cabinet members have been spending nights at the LG’s guest room. Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and health minister Satyendra Jain are on an indefinite hunger strike. The Delhi government is demanding that IAS officers strike should be brought to an end. Kejriwal has also written to the prime minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention as the lieutenant governor has failed to break the impasse.

"Due to strike, several works are being affected. As L-G is doing nothing to end IAS officers' strike, Delhi government and the people of Delhi request you (PM) with folded hands to get the strike called off immediately so that works of Delhi can resume," Kejriwal wrote in the letter, which he tweeted on June 14.

Terming that the face-off between the AAP and the IAS office as something which is not new, Sehgal adds, “Tensions were there since they removed the first IAS officer Shakuntala Gamblin. But, officer like former principal secretary Rajendra Kumar and others played a negative role by boosting Kejriwal’s morale and attacking their own colleague.”

With no cabinet meetings in last two weeks and a tussle between IAS officers organisation and the Delhi government, undoubtedly, it is the common man who is suffering.

The decision making meeting on various matters, including the Signature Bridge, funds for the economically weaker section (EWS), construction of new Mohalla clinics, preparedness on rainy season outbreak and several others, are awaiting for a green signal.

Speaking in favour of IAS officers, Sehgal adds, “A chief secretary plays a key role while coordinating between the chief minister and the lieutenant governor. One can’t undermine his role or can’t level allegations against him. One needs to learn how to coordinate with the bureaucrats.”

Comments

Other News

2020 is crucial for CPSE: Arjun Ram Meghwal

"The year 2020 is going to be a significant year for India and especially for Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE), "said the Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State for heavy industries and public enterprises on Wednesday at the 7th PSU Awards and Conference organised by Governance Now on 19th

Vice President springs surprise, speaks in 22 languages

Highlighting the importance of preserving, protecting and promoting Indian languages, the vice president of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu spoke in 22 languages at an event to mark International Mother Language Day in New Delhi. He urged all the citizens to take a pledge to promote mother tongue and also lea

Title Insurance: new product for old issues

Real estate is among the priciest investments around. More so for the common man who has to live with the burden of monthly EMIs. Yet, it is an art to discover the real owner of any property. Government and revenue records, which are easily accessible to the public, are not properly maintained. Individual

Aadhaar linkage with electoral roll on cards

The election commission of India (ECI) has been working on a series of electoral reforms, and the agenda includes linking Aadhaar with the electoral roll, considering paid news and false affidavit as electoral offence/corrupt practice, better monitoring the role of print media and social media intermediari

Save Panje wetland, give it Ramsar status: environmentalists

To protect the fast depleting wetlands against being used as landfill and for development activities in Mumbai metropolitan region (MMR), environmentalists have asked the centre to declare the 289-hectare Panje wetlands in Uran tehsil of Raigarh district as a ‘Ramsar site’ and preserve its ecol

All you wanted to know about Mumbai’s coastal road

Mumbai is building a coastal road to cut through traffic snarls and make life easier for commuters. The ambitious project, part of the city’s Development Plan (DP) 2035, is the second major initiative after the Bandra-Worli sea link, and should become a reality in 2023. Here are the key facts