NEW DELHI, July 17:
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener Arvind Kejriwal today launched a scathing attack on Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, who he claimed, was expected to invite the BJP to form a Government in Delhi today.
Amid reports of BJP forming the Government in Delhi, Kejriwal attacked Jung, with whom he has had a love-hate relationship, and asked whether the LG should not ask for a letter of support of MLAs or else he would be seen as acting partisan.
“Sources (claim)- Despite public outcry, LG likely to invite BJP to form Government today. BJP will accept it…BJP still does not have nos. Sources – 6 Congress MLAs not yet ready. BJP’s assessment – After taking oath, it would become easier to buy MLAs…
“Would LG save his chair or the constitution – nation will keenly watch. If a party (BJP) has once already declined the offer to form govt – can the LG invite the same party in the existing Vidhan Sabha again? … Shouldn’t LG first ask for a list of supporting MLAs? Else wouldn’t LG be seen to be acting partisan?” Kejriwal said in a series of tweets.
He also said that would Jung encourage horse trading if he invites the BJP for Government formation.
“Would LG encourage horse trading if he invites a party to form govt despite knowing that they don’t have nos? Questions – can LG invite a party to form govt without prima facie satisfying himself whether the party has nos?” Kejriwal tweeted.
He had also sought an appointment with Jung, but party sources said he was conveyed that the meeting was only possible next Monday. “By then we dont think the meeting would be of any use,” Kejriwal said.
Earlier in the day, AAP had a meeting with its legislators to formulate future course of action
“We will expose the BJP’s attempt to buy Congress’ MLAs and go before the people,” said senior AAP leader and Patparganj MLA Manish Sisodia.
The party leadership also had meeting with its legislators to formulate the future course of action in the event the BJP forms the Government.
Rubbishing the rumours that seven party MLAs were resigning, the AAP termed it as baseless.
“We are very worried about the BJP’s preparations of horse trading. We have all decided that all 27 MLAs of AAP understand their responsibility and we will not allow any kind of horse trading.
“AAP will not allow buying or selling, any dishonest Government formation and we will do whatever is needed. Not even one AAP MLA will budge. Everyone wants an election,” Sisodia said.
It was decided in the meeting that party will also oppose the hike in electricity tariff.
Sisodia also added that the party will also oppose if the subsidy given by the then AAP Government on water and electricity is not extended or not included in the Delhi Budget, which is expected to be presented this week.
“We will oppose the hike in the electricity tariff by the DERC. If the BJP forms Government in Delhi, we will also oppose it tooth and nail because they dont have numbers and in this case can only form a corrupt Government through horsetrading,” said Surendra Singh, AAP MLA from Delhi Cant. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, July 17:
A bill which makes wilful neglect of duties by public servants in issues relating to atrocities against the SC and ST a punishable offence was referred to the Standing Committee by Lok Sabha amid protests and objections from Congress.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan referred the bill to the Standing Committee amid disruptions from opposition members including Congress, RJD and RSP demanding immediate statement from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on journalist Ved Pratap Vaidik’s meeting with the 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed.
Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot said he would go by the orders of the Speaker on the measure when she asked whether it should be referred to the Standing Committee.
When the House returned to order following a statement from the External Affairs Minister on the Vaidik issue and resumed debate on the general budget, leader of the Congress Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue of the bill and objected to its being referred to the Standing Committee.
At one point, Kharge went to Mulayam Singh Yadav whom the Speaker had asked to resume the debate on Budget, but the SP chief was not impressed.
Kharge as also another Congress member K H Muniappa insisted that the issue involved 23 per cent of the population in the country and they wanted to have their say in the matter.
Supporting their contention, their party colleague Shashi Tharoor raised a point of order saying it was not proper to take a decision when the House was not in order.
Mahajan overruled all the objections observing that opposition would have come to know of the bill being referred to the Standing Committee if they had not resorted to din.
A decision has been taken by the House to refer the bill to the Standing Committee and more discussion sought by opposition could be possible in such a Committee, she observed.
The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2014, seeks to replace an Ordinance. The bill states that if a public servant, who is not a member of a SC or ST, wilfully neglects his duties required to be performed by him under this Act, he or she shall be punished with imprisonment for a term from six months to one year.
The bill also makes provisions for states to set up special courts to try offences under the Act. (PTI)