Democracy under attack from Modi govt: Sisodia

New Delhi, Sep 9 (PTI) Hitting out at Prime MinisterNarendra Modi and Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, Deputy ChiefMinister Manish Sisodia today said that democracy in thecountry is "under attack" from the BJP-led central government. Sisodia accused the Centre of "harassing" officers andsaid Jung has set up a probe into projects of mohalla clinicsand construction of school rooms. He alleged the LG’s office was "hatching conspiracy" tosend officers engaged in these projects to jail. He allegedthese officers are being threatened by the Lt Governor. Defending the government’s decision to call a one-daySpecial Session of Delhi Assembly, the Deputy CM said, "As theCentre is trying to demolish 105 mohalla clinics,newly-constructed school rooms and conspiracy is being hatchedagainst officers engaged in these both projects, thegovernment had to call the Special Session," Sisodia saidwhile responding a discussion on alleged attempt to derailgovernance by Centre in Delhi. The minister said that the government’s works includingconstruction of mohalla clinics and construction of new schoolrooms have come to a standstill due to officers beingterrorized by the LG office. He also claimed that when the government was going tochallenge the Delhi High Court order, which last month stampedthe primacy of Lt Governor in the administration, in theSupreme Court, officers had refused to sign petitions to befiled in the apex court and therefore, he had to sign thepetition. He said that the Centre is closely monitoring thefunctioning of Delhi government and creating hurdles. Citing the cases of two IAS officers — CM’s principalsecretary Rajendra Kumar and former Urban Developmentsecretary Chetan Sanghi, the Deputy CM claimed that whenofficers is seen roaming with any minister, LG office summonedthem and asked they have two models of Kumar and Sanghi. Kumar had recently been arrested by CBI in connectionwith graft charges while Chetan Sanghi had found himself introuble after a committee headed by him had found some allegedirregularities in Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA).Sanghi, who was also facing probe, had also been transferredto the Centre. Participating in the discussion, Delhi Home MinisterSatyendar Jain said that in the last one month, workspertaining to mohalla clinics have come to a standstill. He said that LG-appointed three Secretaries ofdepartments have not come to meet him after taking charge asLG has threatened them not to cooperate the Aam Aam AadmiParty government. "The Centre has turned government in Delhi into a joke.The Centre is trying to demolish all democratic system inDelhi. Officers, who are looking after key projects, have beentransfered by the LG," he said. Participating in the discussion, Opposition leaderVijender Gupta said that Delhi government doesn’t believe indemocracy. "LG has recenctly notified appointing authority. As perthe order, LG can only transfer IAS and DANICS. There are overl lakh employees. Except 1,000 officers, Delhi government havecommand over rest of the employees. "Government is runnig away from its responsbility," Guptasaid. PTI BUNSMN