The Congress on Friday slammed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the Delhi government’s decision to hire Congress leader P. Chidambaram to represent it in its case against the Centre in the Supreme Court even after having criticised him in the past.
Mr. Chidambaram, the former Union Finance and Home Minister, is among the lawyers representing the State government in the case, in which hearing started on Thursday. Hitting out against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Mr. Kejriwal, Congress leaders called out the CM on social media.
Quoting a tweet by Mr. Kejriwal accusing Mr. Chidambaram of corruption in 2012, Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken tweeted: “Congratulations! .@PChidambaram_IN - You have been exonerated by your one time critic @ArvindKejriwal and AAP! Would AAP now apologise!? (sic)”.
Mr. Maken also quoted another tweet by the media advisor to the CM, Nagendar Sharma, from November 25, 2014, that while Delhi Congress leaders wanted action against power discom BSES, Mr. Chidambaram and former Minister and senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal argued on behalf of the company in the Supreme Court.
Sticky position
Delhi Congress spokesperson Sharmistha Mukherjee said Mr. Chidambaram representing the Delhi government in court “exposed the hypocrisy of Mr. Kejriwal and the AAP”.
“It shows the lack of talent in the AAP that they had to come to a Congress leader for help. When Mr. Chidambaram was representing BSES or private schools in his capacity as a professional, the AAP politicised it,” said Ms. Mukherjee.
While Delhi Congress leaders questioned the decision, it also put the party in a sticky position as Mr. Chidambaram will be defending the Delhi government, which has maintained that the Centre, through the Lieutenant-Governor, has not allowed it to function properly.
The Congress, however, has repeatedly said that its government in Delhi was able to work despite a BJP government in the Centre.
When asked about Mr. Chidambaram potentially defending a stand opposed to that of the Congress, Ms. Mukherjee said: “There is no dichotomy. It is a professional matter.”
‘Experienced lawyer’
A senior Delhi government official said that the decision to engage Mr. Chidambaram was taken by the legal team keeping in mind his experience.
Being a senior advocate and a former Minister, Mr. Chidambaram is well versed in Article 239AA of the Constitution, which gives Delhi special status, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act and the Transaction of Business Rules - all central to the ongoing case, the official said.
In fact, the official added, Mr. Chidambaram has been representing the Delhi Assembly Speaker in two matters since January.
Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said that this was the decision of the Delhi government and the party has nothing to say on it.
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Congratulations! .@PChidambaram_IN -You have been exonerated by your one time critic @ArvindKejriwal and AAP! Would AAP now apologise!? (sic)
Ajay Maken
Delhi Congress president
The decision to engage Mr. Chidambaram was taken by the legal team keeping in mind his experience… he is well versed with Article 239AA of the Constitution, which gives Delhi special status; the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act; and the Transaction of Business Rules — all central to the ongoing case
Senior Delhi government official
This was the decision of the Delhi government and the Aam Aadmi Party has nothing to say on it
Saurabh Bharadwaj
AAP spokesperson