Manish Sisodia's allegation against me on Delhi excise policy baseless, motivated: Anil Baijal

Raising doubts and levelling allegations against LG’s decisions has been a norm, ever since AAP has formed the government in Delhi. The allegations now made by Shri Manish Sisodia are baseless and are motivated against me. They are nothing but blatant lies and falsehoods being perpetrated by a desperate man to save his own skin. Mr. Sisodia is trying to find some alibi for his, and his colleagues' acts of commission and omissions.

During the implementation of the new Delhi Excise Policy, on several occasions, I had flagged the unlawful decisions taken by the AAP Government of Delhi which had to be amended on files. These facts are now in the public domain.

In the matter of not allowing liquor vends in non-conforming areas, I discharged my constitutional responsibility of upholding the laws of the land. No law in Delhi, even today, allows for the opening of Liquor Vends in non-conforming areas.

In view of the multiple cases which came to be filed during that period and their pendency in courts and further in view of various observations made therein, I had decided to set up a Committee under the Chairmanship of VC-DDA with Divisional Commissioner, Excise Commissioner, Commissioner’s of DMC’s, Secretary (IT) and Representative of National Institute of Urban Affairs, MoHUA as its members to examine the setting up of Liquor vends in Non- Conforming Areas.

Vide its report dated 10th December 2021, the Committee was of the view that as regards 67 non-conforming wards, the Excise Department can consider allowing the Licensee of such wards to open additional vends in the conforming areas of such adjoining wards where conforming areas exist or any other ward allotted to the Licensee. Accordingly, no permission was granted for opening liquor vends in non-conforming areas.

It appears that the AAP Government of Delhi and its Excise Minister initially claimed record revenue through excise by manipulating figures; but when that got utterly exposed, they are now playing this deplorable game of blaming me, by distorting facts and painting a false narrative.

During my entire tenure as the LG, I upheld the constitutional values and laws of the land, in letter and spirit, which has always been an issue with the AAP Government of Delhi. The record will speak for itself and I dismiss the claims made by the AAP Government and its Excise Minister in toto. The time and investigations will reveal the truth.

As a public functionary, I have always worked with the highest degree of moral values and ethics.

(Anil Baijal is a former Lieutenant Governor of Delhi).