Zee Media Bureau/Ajith Vijay Kumar
New Delhi: Adamant over the demand that AAP`s version of the Jan Lokpal Bill and the Swaraj Bill be passed by the Delhi Assembly, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday asserted that he is willing to resign a thousands times for the cause.
Kejriwal tweeted that he is willing to sacrifice the CM`s chair a 100 times to rid the country of corruption. He later added that he is willing to sacrifice the CM`s chair a 1000 times for Swaraj, which is aimed to give power to the people.
Desh se corruption mitane ke liye 100 baar CM ki kursi kurbaan
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 10, 2014
Swaraj ke liye aur satta seedhe janta ke haath mein dene ke liye 1000 baar CM ki kursi kurbaan. Ye azadi ki duari ladai hai
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 10, 2014
Later Kejriwal met Lt Governor Najeeb Jung. Following the meeting, Jung has referred the matter related to Jan Lokpal Bill to Union Law Ministry for a final opinion on the constitutional position.
Clearly, Kejriwal appears heading for a do-or-die battle with the Centre on the issue. The Congress, which supports the AAP government from outside, has already indicated it may not support the Jan Lokpal Bill until it is cleared by the Centre.
The Congress has termed Kejriwal`s efforts to push through the bill as “unconstitutional” and slammed him for what they percive as an attempt to override the constitution of the country.
“Congress has always maintained that it will support the Jan Lokpal Bill. Our only request to the AAP government is to follow the rules and respect the Constitution. The CM is not above the Constitution,” Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely said.
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The BJP too has questioned the motive behind AAP`s efforts to get the bills passed without taking into consideration the views of other parties.
The party has termed the push for Jan Lokpal by AAP as a `drama` and accused Kejriwal of trying to shy away from the responsibilities he was entrusted with by the people of Delhi.
While the Jan Lokpal Bill seeks life term as maximum punishment for government servants – including the chief minister - found guilty of corruption, the Swaraj bill intends to decentralise power by segregating the city into 2,700 mohalla sabhas.
Both the bills are inspired by Kejriwal`s book `Swaraj` which questions the existing democratic framework in the country. The book itself is mired in controversy after a primary school teacher from Noida , who has written a similar book, accused the AAP chief of plagiarism.
As per the AAP, Central government`s prior clearance was not required for the passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill. As per their view, the Constitution provides the Delhi government to pass any law except for the law related to police, law and order and land.
Explaining his government`s stand on the bill, Kejriwal had said, "They said the Union government`s clearance is needed. Then why are we elected? We are asking for removal of corruption, they are saying no to it. The law is for the people and not vice versa."
