Congress’s Delhi unit president Ajay Maken. (Source: Express Photo by Ravi Kanojia/File)
The Congress on Friday said it would fight the office-of-profit case involving 20 AAP MLAs in the Election Commission of India (ECI) again, after the Delhi High Court set aside their disqualification and asked the poll panel to hear the matter afresh.
Reacting on the high court order, Congress’s Delhi unit president Ajay Maken tweeted, “We will fight it out in the Election Commission again as these 20 MLAs have enjoyed perks. HC has not disputed or denied this. The HC has just asked ECI to look at it again in the light of natural justice!”
Maken claimed that the AAP government itself had admitted before the Election Commission that a huge amount was spent on office, furniture, transportation and perks for these MLAs who worked as parliamentary secretaries.
Good that 20 AAP MLA are disqualified on charges of corruption!
Delhi Govt itself,admitted before Election Commission that a huge amount was spent on office, furniture, transportation&perks for these Parliamentary Secretaries similar to Ministers!
Isn’t it a form of corruption?
— Ajay Maken (@ajaymaken) March 23, 2018
The high court termed the Election Commission’s recommendation on disqualification as “vitiated”, and noted that there was violation of natural justice and no oral hearing was given to the MLAs before disqualifying them as legislators of the Delhi Assembly.
An elated Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal termed the order as “a victory of truth”.