New Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal has made it a habit to blame me to stay in the news, Delhi Lieutenant Governor (L-G) V.K. Saxena has said.
In an interaction with ThePrint Saturday, Saxena also asserted that “from my end, there is no question of confrontation” with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government, and asked the party to reflect on “why confrontation was happening now”.
Speaking about the Delhi chief minister and AAP convenor, Saxena said: “Arvind Kejriwal might have some political compulsions due to which he blames me. If someone has made it a habit to blame me, then there’s no cure for that. There are some people who try to create controversy to stay in the news. This is his way to stay relevant in the news.”
When asked why the Delhi government and the L-G’s office were reported to be at loggerheads over various issues, Saxena said: “From my end, there is no question of confrontation. My focus is only on the development of Delhi. I have never spoken about taking credit for any of the work”.
The L-G further talked about the upcoming G20 summit, to be held in New Delhi from 9 to 10 September.
A row had broken out last month between the AAP and the BJP, which is leading the central government, over beautification work in the capital ahead of the summit. Both parties had accused each other of “trying to steal credit” for the work.
Speaking to ThePrint, Saxena said the “credit” for the work done to spruce up Delhi went to the “entire team” of government departments that had worked together tirelessly, despite the multiplicity of agencies, to prepare Delhi to host the G20sSummit and provide the best experience to world leaders in attendance.
He added, however, that there was a need for good leadership from the front — and he provided that.
“Work which could be done in two months, why did it not happen in nine years (of the Kejriwal government)? For someone who is trying to seek credit for the work today, why didn’t he (CM) do anything for nine years,” asked Saxena.
He added that “if even one year had been given to Delhi by the AAP government, the city would have been transformed”.
“Delhi is a complex city with multiple agencies. If proper leadership is there, it gives officials ease to work,” Saxena told ThePrint, adding: “I never stop any development-related work”.
He further asserted that “I’m Delhi’s local guardian” and “my aim is to ensure that Delhi should be decked up and adorned (with green spaces, better roads, footpaths, etc)”.
“We will restore the glory of Delhi,” he added.
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‘Fault with persons part of the system’
According to Saxena, governments led by different parties in Delhi and at the Centre had previously worked together without any problems.
“Even nine years ago, there were governments (led by different parties) and they did their work without any confrontation. Work happened very smoothly during that time. The issues of confrontation are being raised now,” he said, adding that “there is no fault in the system but (with) the persons who are part of the system”.
“Arvind Kejriwal should reflect on this issue and why confrontation is happening now,” he said.
When asked why a major international summit was required to clean and spruce up Delhi, Saxena said the last two months were testimony to the fact that “if we set up a target to clean Delhi, it can be achieved”.
Asserting that cleanliness was a major challenge for the Delhi authorities as they prepared for the summit, the L-G said: “All departments came together and worked intensively for two months. Delhi still needs major changes in the coming months. The city is not at all the way a powerful nation’s national capital should be. Delhi and the people of Delhi deserve a better living.”
“Soon after the summit ends on 11 September, we will once again start the beautification drive of the city,” he added.
Talking about the July floods in Delhi, Saxena said they were “avoidable”.
“Delhi’s floods were avoidable. I’ve written a detailed letter to the Delhi CM on the recent floods. There is a need to learn from our mistakes and take corrective measures. In case of rain during the G20 Summit, we have all adequate measures in place,” he said.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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