VK Saxena’s letter said Delhi ministers have been informed of the meeting on April 2 ((File)

New Delhi:

In a letter to the Union Home Ministry, the Lieutenant Governor said Delhi ministers showed “insensitivity and lack of seriousness” by refusing to attend a meeting called by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena to discuss the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the operational issues of various ministries and commissions.

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in connection with a money laundering case related to the now-defunct Delhi excise tax policy.

In his letter, the Lieutenant Governor said such consultations were necessary in the context of Mr Kejriwal’s arrest “so that day-to-day governance is not hampered”, but ministers rejected his invitation citing ” Model Code of Conduct” is “plausible justification.” in force.

“After the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the subsequent events, especially those related to the city’s public health infrastructure, the summer action plan hampering water supply, etc., unfolded in the public domain , the deputy governor decided to convene a meeting of key ministers of the GNCTD water conservancy, education, health, transportation, environment and forest departments.”

The letter stated that notices for the meeting on April 2 have been sent to Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj.

“However, all ministers via email declined to attend the said meeting on the ground that, as the Model Code of Conduct is already in force, it is not appropriate to hold such a meeting at this stage,” it said.

The letter added: “The Lieutenant Governor believes that consultations of this nature are necessary so that the day-to-day work of governance is not hampered in the context of the arrest and detention of the First Minister.”

The letter also stated that “the reasons given for not attending the meeting appear to be vague and display a lack of seriousness and insensitivity towards issues affecting the daily lives of Delhi citizens”.

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