NEW DELHI, May 17 � Rushing to the defence of the Delhi�s Acting Chief Secretary Shakuntala Gamlin, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Sunday charged the AAP government in Delhi of indulging in character assassination of Gamlin, an IAS officer hailing from Assam, and �disobeying� the Constitution.
Rijiju said although the officer�s appointment was made by Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung according to rules, the Delhi Government is making allegations against her without any proof.
�This is nothing but character assassination of a lady IAS officer from the Northeast. They are saying she is incapable. What are the charges against her? If she is involved in any corruption, then bring charges against her. By levelling such allegations against her, they are just indulging in character assassination. It is an insult to the people of the Northeast,� he said.
The AAP Government is trying to violate rules and is disobeying the Constitution by questioning the authority of the LG, he said.
The Minister strongly criticised the AAP�s charge that the Centre was attempting a �coup� in Delhi, and questioned the use of an �undemocratic� word like coup.
�Merely because you are an elected government does not mean that you have overriding powers and can work against rules and the Constitution,� he said.
Making it clear that the national capital is just a Union Territory, he said its government cannot be equated with any other State government as the LG enjoys special powers and the State Government has limited powers as per the Constitution.
The IAS officer in question is former State Minister Lalit Doley�s daughter and wife of former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister, the late Jarbom Gamlin.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal kicked up a row by openly accusing Gamlin of favouring the power companies.
�We have proof that Gamlin was lobbying for power companies,� Kejriwal said at a rally.
Jung on Friday had appointed Gamlin as Delhi�s Acting Chief Secretary despite strong opposition from Kejriwal.
Meanwhile, Gamlin, in a written complaint to Jung, claimed that she was being intimidated and blackmailed by senior officials of the Delhi government.
She also accused the State Government of casting aspersions on her integrity and levelling false charges.
