Cong hits out at AAP, says it is avoiding responsibilities

New Delhi: With Aam Admi Party setting conditions for government formation, Congress’ Delhi unit today hit out at Arvind Kejriwal-led party for trying to “avoid responsibilities” and dared it to respect the mandate. “Congress has extended support so that AAP can form the government as they got the mandate from the people of Delhi. AAP has sent the long list only to avoid responsibilities,” Congress MLA and former Power Minister Haroon Yusuf told reporters here. [caption id=“attachment_1287247” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. AFP[/caption] The party which was routed in the Delhi assembly election after being in power for 15 years claimed that the 18 issues raised by Kejriwal in his letter to chiefs of Congress and BJP had nothing to do with the legislature and showed his “lack of knowledge” in the field. It also dismissed suggestions that it would hamstring the new government’s functioning. Throwing the gauntlet, the party said that AAP should have shown its competency to bring any Bill and get it passed in the Assembly, instead of misleading people. “Making promises and talking about giving freebies is one thing and to be actually delivering them is another…if things go on like this, then one day they may send letters to the US President and the UN Chief,” Yusuf said. In a surprise move, Congress had last night extended unconditional support of its eight MLAs to AAP for forming the next government. However, AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal during a meeting with Lt Governor Najeeb Jung today sought time and said that he had written letters to Congress President Sonia Gandhi and BJP President Rajnath Singh seeking their views on a list of 18 issues. Yusuf attacked Kejriwal “for making fun of democracy by shying away” from their responsibility and said “if people of Delhi have given you a mandate and Congress is readily extending support, then they should form the government and fulfil their promises.” “He has garnered vote by misleading people of Delhi. I would ask the youth, who have supported them thinking AAP would bring a change, that they should also demand that the party form the government and fulfil their promises,” the former minister said. Former Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely said Congress had given a letter to Lt Governor saying it would be giving unconditional support to AAP, which means “we would not have a tie-up and they will get our support”. PTI