New Delhi [India], April 1: BJP leader and Delhi Minister Majinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday alleged large-scale corruption by AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, linking his government’s actions to Delhi’s worsening air quality.
The accusations came after the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on ‘Prevention of Air Pollution from Vehicles’ was tabled in the Delhi Assembly today.
Key Allegations by Majinder Singh Sirsa:
1. Delayed Tabling of CAG Report
- Sirsa questioned why the report had not been made public earlier and accused the AAP government of deliberately hiding its findings.
- He claimed that AAP legislators had walked out of the Delhi Assembly under Kejriwal’s instructions, alleging that the former CM had gone into “depression” after recent political setbacks.
2. ‘Loot and Pollution’ Under Kejriwal’s Rule
- The minister blamed AAP’s mismanagement for Delhi’s rising air pollution.
- “Pollution is coming from Kejriwal’s loot. The treatment of Kejriwal’s Sheeshmahal (luxurious residence) is causing pollution,” Sirsa said.
3. DTC Bus Scam and Odd-Even Scheme
- Sirsa alleged that corruption in Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus procurement led to a decline in public transport, forcing commuters to switch to more polluting two-wheelers.
- He accused AAP of spending ₹53 crore on the odd-even scheme, while DTC’s bus fleet shrank drastically over the years.
- “From 2011 to 2015, there were 89 buses on roads. Now, only 14-15% of DTC buses are functional while the rest are damaged and abandoned,” he said.
4. Allegations of PUC Certificate Bribery
- The minister claimed that over 22.14 lakh vehicle pollution checks were conducted, but 1.08 lakh vehicles that exceeded pollution limits were still issued PUC certificates after bribes were paid.
- “How much money did AAP make from this scam? ₹500 crore or ₹5000 crore?” he questioned.
AAP’s Response
Sirsa ridiculed AAP’s stance on the CAG report, stating that they understood scams but not audit reports.
“First, they say they don’t understand the CAG report. Then they demand that all 14 reports be presented together. If they can’t read one, how will they read 14?”
Political Fallout
These fresh allegations are likely to escalate tensions between AAP and BJP, especially in light of Kejriwal’s recent legal troubles and growing scrutiny over governance issues.