Ravi Shankar Prasad came out in defense of the ordinance of the Center; Said- Delhi is Union Territory
Ravi Shankar Prasad said that as per the ordinance, the committee which will now recommend such transfers and appointments will still be headed by the Chief Minister of Delhi.
The BJP in Bihar's Patna on Saturday said the Centre's ordinance regarding transfer and posting of officers in Delhi has been brought in to ensure "transparency and accountability". Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad while talking to the media here said that the Supreme Court had cited the absence of any specific law regarding administration in Delhi under Schedule II of the Constitution. He said that we had to bring the ordinance because within days of the Supreme Court's decision, the Delhi government started reinventing itself. It replaced YK Rajasekhar, a 2010 batch IAS officer. He was probing irregularities in the Sheesh Mahal. Prasad was referring to the huge expenditure for the renovation of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official residence.
'Ordinance brought to ensure transparency in transfer-posting'
Ravi Shankar Prasad said that as per the ordinance, the committee which will now recommend such transfers and appointments will still be headed by the Chief Minister of Delhi. Prasad said that Delhi is the heart of India. It is the capital of the whole country. It is often visited by dignitaries from all over the world. So we needed a system that could ensure transparency and accountability in transfers and postings. He said that Delhi is Union Territory and not Arvind Kejriwal Territory.
The former Union Law and Justice minister said Rajasekhar was also probing alleged irregularities in the Delhi Jal Board. He said that not only he has been transferred. In fact, a case has also been registered against him on false allegations leveled by an NGO.
Prasad also spoke of the alleged intimidation of two Dalit IAS officers, including Services Secretary Ashish More. These officers had written letters to the Chief Secretary and Lieutenant Governor of Delhi complaining against Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj. Prasad said that therefore, it was necessary to bring an ordinance, which would ensure transparency and accountability in transfer and posting of officers and also protect honest people.
'Old notes used to go out of circulation even during Manmohan Singh's government'
Prasad gave his response in response to a question about the demonetisation of Rs 2,000 notes. He said that the RBI has issued a detailed communication, clearly stating how the use of these high denomination notes was going down. We would like to remind our Congress friends that even during Manmohan Singh's regime old notes were demonetised. That's why they (Congress) should not call it demonetisation, he said. He also remarked that if these notes were used for money laundering, eliminating them would affect the networks involved.
'Opposition unity is a dream'
The swearing-in ceremony of the new cabinet in Karnataka was attended by various non-Congress leaders including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. In this regard, the BJP leader said that the Chief Ministers of Odisha, West Bengal and Telangana have chosen not to attend the function. It is clear from this that opposition unity is a dream.
'There is no bar on daydreaming'
Ravi Shankar Prasad also ridiculed CM Nitish Kumar's slip of the tongue at the beginning of the week. CM Nitish had addressed one of his principal secretaries as 'Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister'. Prasad said that there is no restriction on daydreaming. But certainly there is no vacancy for the post of Prime Minister in 2024.