BJP ministers demanding 10% commission on every project, distressed Delhi officers seeking transfers: Atishi

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has lashed out at BJP ministers for abusing Delhi Government officials, exposing a shocking pattern of intimidation and extortion within just a month of their rule. Senior AAP leader and Delhi Assembly Leader of Opposition (LoP), Atishi, said BJP ministers are demanding a 10% commission on every project, forcing many officers to seek transfers out of Delhi or to the central government. Several officials have informed AAP that resisting these demands invites direct threats of suspension.

Atishi slammed BJP, questioning how ministers could resort to such bullying when these very officers—despite relentless hurdles—transformed Delhi’s public schools and hospitals, built world-class mohalla clinics, and delivered projects like Signature Bridge and 38 flyovers over the past decade during the AAP government.

During a press conference, senior AAP leader and Delhi Assembly LoP, Atishi, strongly condemned BJP’s Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Verma for abusing government officials. She said, “Since this morning, BJP’s Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Verma has been hurling abuses at government officials, making derogatory remarks about them in public. He is calling them incompetent, unresponsive, and thick-skinned. But these are the same officials who have worked relentlessly over the last 10 years, despite adverse circumstances, to transform Delhi.”

The Delhi Assembly LoP emphasised that officers built world-class government school buildings, developed cutting-edge infrastructure in public hospitals, constructed the Signature Bridge, and completed over 28 flyovers—drastically improving traffic movement in the city.

Atishi questioned why the same officials, who had been delivering quality work for a decade, had suddenly stopped functioning within just a month. She questioned, “What has changed so drastically that these officers, who were committed to building better schools, hospitals, and infrastructure for Delhiites, have now halted their work? Officials across various levels—whether field officers or senior IAS officers—are reaching out to us, revealing the truth.”

She shared, “They say BJP’s ministers in the Delhi government have started demanding commissions. They have been told that for every road constructed, 10% commission will go to the minister. For every hospital building, 10% commission will be taken. Even for new Mohalla Clinics or Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, they are now saying that rented spaces will be replaced with new buildings—just so that ministers can pocket their 10% cut.”

Atishi stated that officials were facing threats and pressure to comply with these demands. “Today, when officers are refusing to pay these commissions, they are being abused and intimidated. They are being threatened with suspension—even though everyone knows that Delhi ministers do not have the power to suspend officers. Under the GNCTD Amendment Act, such matters go to the NCCSA (National Capital Civil Services Authority) and require the approval of the LG. The threats are being issued solely to extort commissions.”

The Delhi Assembly LoP warned of an impending exodus of officials from Delhi due to the hostile environment, saying, “In the coming days, you will see many officers seeking transfers out of Delhi. Several officials already posted in Delhi are now trying to return to the Government of India or get reassigned to other states. The reason is clear: in 10 years, no AAP minister ever demanded commissions, but in just one month, every BJP minister is demanding a 10% cut, abusing officials, and using suspension threats to pressure them into corruption.”

Atishi further said, “A handful of officers—three or four at most—tried to obstruct AAP’s work. But over the last 10 years, whether in the education, health, transport, or PWD departments, Delhi’s officials have delivered. They built 22,000 world-class classrooms, developed sports infrastructure, opened over 500 Mohalla Clinics, procured electric buses at a large scale, and constructed more than 28 flyovers.”

“They did this despite constant interference from the Centre, despite good officers being suspended, despite every possible challenge thrown at them,” she added.

The Delhi Assembly LoP asserted, “Today, the world acknowledges that Delhi’s government schools are among the best, that Mohalla Clinics are a model being discussed globally, and that people from across India visit the Signature Bridge. There is no doubt that, despite difficult conditions, most officers worked diligently for a decade. But now, if officers are refusing to work, if they are trying to get transferred out of Delhi, it is because BJP’s ministers have started demanding commissions. This corruption is why officers are being forced out.”

Responding to a media question regarding BJP minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa claiming that the MCD is deliberately setting fires and spreading pollution to defame the BJP, Atishi stated, “When BJP fought elections, their slogan across Delhi was ‘Bahane Nahin, Badlav Chahiye’ (No excuses, we need change). I would urge Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa to reflect on this.”

She further added that it has barely been a month since he became a minister, yet his only focus has been to abuse AAP and Arvind Kejriwal. If you go through the previous Assembly session or BJP’s press conferences, you’ll see that 99% of the time, their leaders have done nothing but attack AAP. In this entire month, neither in the Assembly nor in any official briefing has he presented a vision, a plan of action, or a timeline for any department. The BJP minister himself said, ‘No excuses, we need change.’ But in just one month, he has failed and is making excuses—it’s unfortunate.