Dikshit slams Lokayukta, calls his action 'motivated'

New Delhi, March 27 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit slammed the state Lokayukta for seeking the review of his recommendations to President Pratibha Patel to censure her, saying his demand was "motivated" and "aimed at raking up the issue".

"Was there really a need to send his recommendation to the Lt. Governor to forward it to the president when she (Patil) has already given her last word. I think it was motivated and aimed at raking up the issues," Dikshit told IANS.

In a recent report to Lt. Governor Tejinder Khanna, Lokayukta Justice (retd) Manmohan Sarin has sought a review of his earlier recommendation to the president to censure the chief minister for allegedly misrepresenting facts about readiness of 60,000 low-cost flats ahead of the 2008 assembly polls.

Sarin said Dikshit had stated that the houses were ready for allotment when they were not even built.

In 2011, the president had given a clean chit to Dikshit when Sarin had recommended that the president caution Dikshit for making false claims.

However, in a recent report to Khanna, Sarin contended that the president was not properly advised about the facts of the case.

"The matter be sent, in the first instance, to the president of India for reconsideration and administration of caution to the CM as originally recommended, failing which, it be placed before the Delhi assembly," the report said.

Talking to IANS, the chief minister said the Lokayukta is challenging the authority of the president.

"Delhi Lokayuta thinks that he is above the authority of the president. The president is the last word, how can you challenge her authority. You are challenging the president of India and her decision," Dikshit said.

Justifying her announcement of construction of 60,000 low-cost houses for poor ahead of assembly elections in 2008, she said: "I never said that we have 60,000 houses ready. We said that we will build them."

"Every party comes with a manifesto but not all are completed. There is a process in achieving the goals of the manifesto," said Dikshit.