AAP fires another DDCA salvo, claims centre 'contradicting its own stand'

New Delhi: Citing a High Court order and a letter of acceptance from former Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium to head a Commission of Inquiry notwithstanding Lt Governor Najeeb Jung’s reservations over it, AAP said the Centre should allow a probe into alleged irregularities in DDCA as it “contradicts its own stand”. Former Solicitor-General, Gopal Subramanium, formally accepted the Delhi government’s offer to head the Commission of Inquiry to probe the alleged scam in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA). Mr. Subramanium sent his letter of acceptance to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday.

Addressing a news conference, AAP leader Ashutosh claimed that the High Court, which is looking into the legality of the Commission of Inquiry formed by Delhi government, has not prohibited it from forming another inquiry Commission.

Ashutosh said the Delhi government was merely following the orders of the Union government to probe the matter.

The party claimed that the Union Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs had asked the Delhi government to probe the alleged irregularities in Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) and by “scuttling” the probe, it will only “contradict its order”.

“The Court has not said that another commission of inquiry cannot be formed till it gives its order in this case,” Ashutosh claimed.

He was referring to the on-going case before the Delhi High Court where the Centre and city-government is locked in turf battle to decide on the legality of commission of inquiry.

A few days back Lt Governor Najeeb Jung had sought Centre’s intervention, questioning the legality of appointment of inquiry panel.

Ashutosh also flashed a letter of acceptance by Subramanium to head the inquiry commission formed to probe the alleged irregularities in DDCA.

“Gopal Subramanium is a noted Supreme Court lawyer and a constitutional expert. He has said that the order to pass a commission of inquiry was passed by the Delhi Assembly. So formation of a probe panel is very much legal,” he said.

Taking a jibe at BJP, AAP’s Delhi unit secretary Dilip Pandey said the saffron party had given Jaitley a clean chit merely on claims made by a “two-member committee of spokespersons”.

“The committee, whose report which the BJP is citing was in public domain since 17 November, did not have the mandate to name anyone. Its aim was to find out irregularities in the DDCA. The BJP should not claim Jaitley has been given a clean chit,” Pandey said.

PTI