Chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Monday shot off a protest letter to Union home minister P. Chidambaram and has sought time for a meeting to discuss the transfer of senior city government officials at a crucial time without consulting and informing her.
“The CM has sought time from the Union home minister for a meeting. There are issues which can be talked about in a meeting only,” said a senior official.
Ms Dikshit has in her letter reportedly said that the budget-making process has been disturbed as key officials heading various departments have been transferred.
“Top officials have been transferred out in one go. Those who have been brought to serve in the city government are too junior to be given important responsibilities,” Ms Dikshit is said to have said in the letter.
Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, V.K. Malhotra said that “the Centre’s decision to replace senior officials without the knowledge or acquiescence of the Delhi government is a grave insult to the leadership of the chief minister and she should tender her resignation on this account”. “It is clear that unprecedented corruption, inefficiency and criminal negligence have led to a situation where the Central government had no option except to replace the entire top level of the administration,” Prof. Malhotra said.