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Journalism of Courage
Amid escalating war of words over OP Chautala’s parole issue, Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain on Sunday claimed that his meeting with Lt Governor Najeeb Jung last month was on the the issue of land for setting up new hospitals and not over withdrawal of cases against AAP leaders as alleged by the L-G’s office.
The AAP on Saturday approached the Anti-Corruption Branch against Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, accusing him of “misusing office” to favour the former Haryana chief minister over a parole request made by him.
The L-G’s office on Friday had rubbished the allegations, claiming that the charges were being made as the L-G had declined a request by Jain for withdrawal of 24 cases registered against AAP leaders, including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, pending in various courts.
“The L-G’s allegation that I had met him on the issue of withdrawal of cases against AAP leaders are baseless. I did not go to L-G Secretariat with files of AAP leaders for withdrawing cases registered against them.
“As Lt Governor is the chairman of DDA, I met him on October 21 to demand land for setting up 10 new hospitals, but he denied giving land at free of cost and said he would consider his request in case government pays for the same,” Jain told PTI.
The minister said that in the meeting, he just asked the LG about the one-and-a-half month pending files of 11 political leaders booked in “compoundable cases” and not in criminal cases, including seven from AAP, three from BJP and one from Congress which the L-G said would be seen on a case-to-case basis.
“These are petty cases which include violation of prohibited orders – dharna, posters on public property. This is wrong to say that government had sought to withdraw criminal cases against some AAP leaders,” the Home Minister said.
The Delhi government had on Sunday stated that compoundable cases against political leaders are never withdrawn on executive orders but through a screening committee, headed by Principal Secretary (Home).
The Minister claimed that this is the same committee which has already withdrawn cases against BJP leader Harsh Vardhan.
“Now, it has recommended to withdraw case against these 11 leaders including CM Arvind Kejriwal and other political leaders,” Jain said.
