“Given the position, he should refrain from such actions”: Saurabh Bharadwaj over LG’s letter on heatwave

New Delhi [India], May 30 (ANI): Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Wednesday criticised Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena for writing a letter to the Delhi government regarding the lack of an action plan amidst the heatwave. Bharadwaj asserted that he would have welcomed suggestions from the LG, but instead, he believes the letter was written to humiliate the elected government.

Bharadwaj emphasized that given the LG’s position, he should refrain from such actions.

In a press conference, Saurabh Bharadwaj came down heavily on VK Saxena and said, “… A letter from the office of LG has been written to the Delhi Government for an action plan for the heatwave. This is quite ridiculous… The letter dated May 29 questioned the elected leaders of the Delhi Government why no action plan has still been made amid the heatwave.”

He added further, “If the motto was to provide suggestions, we would have welcomed that but here, the motto isn’t of giving suggestions. Here, the motto is to humiliate the government… I see a very small ambition over here. And I think that while sitting in such a higher position, he should keep himself away from such things. Such actions reduce the dignity of one’s position.”

Saurabh Bharadwaj informed that the government has been sending advisories to the different departments since March on the do’s and don’ts amidst the heatwave.

Bharadwaj also informed that the Delhi government had given an advisory regarding protection from heatwave to the LG’s department of police and the LG isn’t even aware of it. He said, “Today, he (VK Saxena) is writing to our Chief Secretary that nothing is happening on the heatwave.”

Saurabh Bharadwaj also took to his X handle and posted, “LG does not know that my health department had sent a heat wave advisory to the Delhi Police department under him on April 18 itself. It was also sent to all the hospitals of the central government. And on May 27, I took a review and again sent an advisory to all the departments. Your advisors are not giving you the right advice at such a high post. They are taking Delhi towards negativity.”

The Delhi Minister in his press conference also said that on April 30, the government gave the advisory to the Chief Electoral Officer in which it was mentioned that those coming to exercise their franchise should get the basic facilities like drinking water.

He added, “On May 27, we had again given the advisories to all the departments and told them what to do and what not to do amidst the heatwave.”

Expressing his displeasure over the letter by LG, Bharadwaj said, “I am very sad with the fact that LG has written such kind of letter. If it had been about suggestions, we would have welcomed it but he has written with the bad intention of how to make the other one smaller and oneself look mighty. He should refrain from doing such things. He has a very big position. All these things greatly reduce the dignity of his position.”

In another X post, Bharadwaj suggested Saxena to give up his negativity and said, “Your post has a lot of dignity. You are also older in age. It does not seem right that falsehood is written in a letter from your office and given to the media. I am sending you the press briefing of two days ago. Due to the heat wave, the government is working ahead of you. Still, your suggestions are welcome. Please give up your negativity.”

Saurabh Bharadwaj in his press conference also talked about the suspension of his OSD Dr RN Das and said, “Today, my office is empty because all the advisors, fellows, and consultants who were appointed, all of them were removed by LG.”

He added, “After that, all the OSDs, and secretaries working here, there is a continuous effort to file some case or the other against all of them in different matters. There is no such case which is from my tenure. All the cases are old cases, old government employees who have been working in different departments…”.