Kejriwal called you a temporary CM, it’s an insult to me… LG writes letter to Atishi

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has written a letter to Chief Minister Atishi in response to a recent statement made by former Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, referring to Atishi as a "temporary, stopgap Chief Minister." The LG expressed his displeasure over the remark, calling it offensive and hurtful. In his letter, LG Saxena stated that he was deeply upset by Kejriwal's comment, which not only insulted Atishi but also him as a representative of the President of India. He further emphasized that Kejriwal’s description of Atishi as a "temporary" or "stopgap" Chief Minister had no constitutional basis and was a disrespectful disregard for the democratic values enshrined in the Constitution, which was drafted by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

Saxena continued, pointing out that the conditions under which Atishi was appointed as Chief Minister are well known, citing issues such as the deteriorating state of the Yamuna, severe water shortages, trash piles, lack of basic amenities in industrial areas, dilapidated roads and sewer lines, and the poor state of healthcare. He questioned how, in just a few months, a "temporary" Chief Minister could address these long-standing issues, which Kejriwal himself had acknowledged as failures. Saxena also criticized Kejriwal for making unsubstantiated announcements regarding senior citizens and women’s welfare schemes under the guise of the Chief Minister’s office, which he claimed undermined the dignity of the position. The letter further addressed a recent incident where two Delhi government departments issued public warnings about the registration of non-existent schemes initiated by Kejriwal. LG Saxena commended the departmental officers for correcting misleading information but expressed concern over Kejriwal’s baseless claims about investigations against Atishi by the Transport Department and other agencies.

Saxena pointed out that these claims were unfounded, as confirmed by the Transport Department’s additional chief secretary, who clarified that no such actions were being taken. In conclusion, Saxena strongly rejected Kejriwal's statements, labeling them as misleading and devoid of factual basis. He expressed concern over the level of public discourse and reiterated that presenting Atishi as a temporary Chief Minister was both hurtful and inappropriate. He wished Atishi success in her role and stated that the letter, while personally addressed, should be seen as a documented record of the current context.