Delhi BJP Claims AAP Government is Concealing CAG Reports, Urges Special Assembly Session

Click to start listening
Delhi BJP Claims AAP Government is Concealing CAG Reports, Urges Special Assembly Session

New Delhi, Dec 17 (NationPress) The President of Delhi BJP, Virendra Sachdeva, voiced strong criticism against the prior Kejriwal government on Tuesday, claiming that it has intentionally suppressed 14 important Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports since the 2017-18 financial year.

He has called upon the Delhi Assembly Speaker to organize a special session.

Sachdeva pointed out the contradiction in the actions of AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal, who began his political journey advocating for transparency and accountability, yet now appears to be evading public exposure of crucial CAG findings, especially those related to financial mismanagement.

He reminded that during 2011-12, Kejriwal gained national attention by revealing CAG reports on financial expenditures during the Commonwealth Games and questioning the Congress government regarding its alleged financial discrepancies.

Sachdeva recounted that Kejriwal even initiated an investigation against former CM Sheila Dikshit on February 6, 2014, based on a CAG report during his brief first term as Delhi's Chief Minister.

He accused the former Kejriwal administration of deliberately withholding CAG reports concerning excise duty on alcohol, pollution control, and other financial matters over the years.

"From 2017 to 2022, 14 crucial CAG reports were finalized, yet they were never presented in the Delhi Assembly. The AAP government has suppressed these findings to evade scrutiny regarding its financial discrepancies," he asserted.

According to constitutional protocols, the CAG submits its audit reports to the state government, which must obtain approval from the Lieutenant Governor under Section 48 of administrative regulations prior to presenting them in the Assembly.

Sachdeva alleged, "Kejriwal avoided releasing these reports to prevent the revelation of extensive financial scams during his administration as Chief Minister."

He stated, "Arvind Kejriwal understands that public disclosure of these CAG reports would unleash a torrent of allegations and legal challenges against his government,"

adding that Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia were pivotal in facilitating this suppression.

BJP legislators, led by Vijender Gupta, submitted a petition to the Delhi High Court on October 29, demanding that the reports be presented in the Assembly. In response to the petition, the Delhi government attempted to delay the process by asserting that the reports were with the Lieutenant Governor and that further action was his responsibility.

However, Sachdeva highlighted that the CAG clarified matters by filing an affidavit in court. The affidavit revealed that the signed reports had already been sent to the Delhi government, with only unsigned copies provided to the Lieutenant Governor for informational purposes.

Following this clarification, BJP legislators increased their efforts, calling for expedited court hearings during the ongoing Assembly session. Despite growing pressure, the AAP government reportedly stalled proceedings, allowing the Assembly's last session to conclude on December 4 without presenting the reports.

In a pivotal ruling on December 16, the Delhi High Court mandated that the AAP government and the Lieutenant Governor inform the Assembly Speaker within two to three days about the presentation status of all 14 CAG reports.

Sachdeva commended the court's quick action, stating, "The truth has now surfaced, and these reports will finally be made public. We anticipate these findings will reveal numerous instances of financial mismanagement."

He further urged the Delhi Assembly Speaker to call a special session on December 21 to ensure the immediate presentation of all 14 CAG reports. "The session should focus solely on the presentation of these reports. Residents of Delhi deserve to know how public funds have been handled," he asserted.

The BJP leader emphasized that the unveiling of these reports would necessitate the Atishi government to recommend investigations into the alleged financial irregularities that occurred during Kejriwal's leadership. He reiterated that AAP ministers, both past and present, must be accountable for their failure to uphold transparency and adhere to constitutional procedures.