AAP leader Ashish Khetan quits Delhi govt’s advisory body, cites frustration
Khetan announced his decision on social media. The journalist-turned-politician, who was made the vice chairperson in 2015, put in his papers on April 16.
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Ashish Khetan said that besides pursuing routine cases, he would take up legal causes in the larger public interest. (File photo)
Stepping down as the vice-chairman of the Delhi Dialogue and Development Commission (DDC), Ashish Khetan said Wednesday that there is an “immense sense of frustration” in the Delhi government owing to its running battle with the Centre.
Khetan made public his decision to resign on social media on Wednesday, and said that he was going to “join the legal profession”. He said he submitted his resignation on April 16.
“At a personal level, I am joining the legal profession and enrolling with the Bar, which actually necessitated my resignation from the DDC. Bar Council rules prohibit practicing advocates from any kind of private or government employment,” he wrote.
Hours after his social media post, Khetan told The Indian Express that while his decision to quit was because of his desire to join the legal profession, frustration over stalled proposals played a role as well.
Khetan, an investigative journalist, said the bickering between the AAP dispensation and the BJP-ruled Centre has affected the entire government machinery in Delhi. “An advisory body can only be as effective as the implementing departments. Our job is to advise, to think and deliberate and give policy recommendations,” he said.
Asked whether this played a role in his decision, he said: “Well, yes, and no. In a sense that there is frustration everywhere in the government. We started with a missionary zeal with various proposals like Aam Aadmi canteens, free Wi-Fi etc. Somehow the implementing departments could not execute them.”
However, he sought to scotch speculations that he was increasingly distancing himself from the AAP. “There’s no question (of quitting AAP). Being part of the party and being part of the government are two different things,” he said.
On his possible candidature in the next Lok Sabha polls, Khetan said, “The decision to field candidates is taken by the party, and as and when that is taken I will take a call.”
Kejriwal had decided to make Khetan his political advisor after Ashish Talwar had stepped down from the post. However, that appointment never went through as the L-G office had passed an order stating that he cannot become an advisor without quitting his post as DDC vice-chairman.
A source claimed that Khetan had offered to quit more than twice earlier as the proposals made by the DDC “hardly made any progress” due to the constant wrangling between the Delhi government and the Centre.
“To have an advisory body which brings in administrative experience, domain expertise and professional knowledge, and then give detailed recommendations after studying all aspects, I think was really unique,” he said.
“No concrete decision has been taken yet, on dissolving the body (DDC) or appointing a new chairperson,” a source said.
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