Modi government wants to keep transfers, postings with itself as it's a million dollar industry: Ashutosh

New Delhi: Lashing out at the Narendra Modi government, Aam Aadmi Party leader Ashutosh claimed that the Central government wants to keep the power to take the administrative decisions through Lieutenant General Najeeb Jung.

"Modi government wants to keep transfers and posting with itself through L-G because it's a million dollar industry and major source of corruption. Lakhs of rupees are paid as bribe to get a lucrative posting and money is distributed top to bottom. Every body has a share," he said.

He also claimed that AAP has been successful in stopping bribe to be given in transfers and postings. "Ask anybody in Delhi and people will tell you that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is the most corrupt body. AAP has stopped bribe in Transfer/posting," he added.

He even went ahead and questioned the IAS association asking how many of them have been honest when in service. "IAS association was sleeping like Kumbhkaran when Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary were humiliated and removed. It will be interesting to study how many belonging to IAS association were clean when in service! It's not a constitutional matter, it's corruption in transfer/posting stupid," he tweeted.

A turf war is going on between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the L-G with both sides claiming to have the power and authority over the other to choose bureaucrats. They have even approached President Pranab Mukherjee over the issue.

Jung on Wednesday also stayed all orders issued by Delhi government related to postings and transfer of officers without consulting him.

The L-G wrote to Kejriwal, mentioning his "constitutional power" to appoint and transfer bureaucrats. In the letter, the Jung challenged AAP government's order to bureaucrats not to follow his directives without getting approval from the Chief Minister or any other minister.

Even as the war continues, Home Minister Rajnath Singh met President Pranab Mukherjee but said no discussion was held on the Delhi issue. "The Lt Governor and Chief Minister should find a solution to this issue. Both should sit together and resolve the issue," he said.

Government sources said the Centre has refused to intervene saying it is simply an ego clash between Kejriwal and Jung.

Sources added that the Attorney General has given his opinion to the L-G and Rajnath Singh apprised the President of the same. The President has sought legal opinion on the issue after he had separate meetings with both Kejriwal and Jung on Tuesday.