Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi on Saturday alleged a Rs 3,237-crore “scam” in the Delhi Jal Board under the AAP government, citing several accounting-related irregularities since 2017.
The AAP, however, responded to the allegations saying that true to its nature, the BJP has once again come up with a new way to “disrupt” the progress of Delhiites.
“It does not go well for a Union minister to make such fabricated insinuations against an ‘honest’ government dedicated to its people,” the AAP said in a statement.
Addressing a joint press conference with BJP’s Delhi unit chief Virendra Sachdeva, Lekhi alleged that tenders for 12,000 work orders worth Rs 600 crore were prevented from being issued by keeping the value of each below 5 lakh rupees.
Sachdeva said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should refer the “scam” to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) for investigation.
If he does not do so, the BJP will urge the lieutenant governor to do so, Sachdeva added.
Lekhi said the AAP and Kejriwal used to allege that a “tanker mafia” existed during the Sheila Dikshit government, but it exists even now.
“The accounts have not been maintained since 2017 and they are trying to hide the details. While Rs 1,601 crore is missing from the books, there is a discrepancy of Rs 1,167 crore between the financial statement of the DJB (Delhi Jal Board) and the reconciliation statement. from the banks. There is also no trace of a term deposit of Rs 135 crore,” he alleged.
Lekhi further alleged that there was “a scam of Rs 3,237 crore under various heads” in the form of financial accounting irregularities, adjustments and readjustments, lack of fixed deposits and others.
The AAP alleged that it is “shameful” that the BJP has ensured, with the GNCTD Amendment Act, that officers do not work for the people of Delhi for the last six months.
“The finance department has been delaying funds for the Delhi Jal Board, which is hampering the development of Delhi. This is being done by the same officials who, on the instructions of the BJP, stopped funds for the Mohalla Clinics before the MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi),” he charged.
The Delhi government remains committed to the progress and prosperity of the city and its people and the DJB has been working to provide water and sewerage facilities, the AAP said.
“Now, to stop the work, the BJP is making false allegations. Now they will threaten the officers with CBI investigations,” he further stated.
This is just to stop the good works being done by the Kejriwal government. No matter how hard the BJP tries, the Arvind Kejriwal government will continue to work for the people of Delhi, he asserted.
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