The Parliament has the right to make laws on any issue related to the National Capital Territory of Delhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said as the House took up the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 for consideration and passage in the Parliament's monsoon session on Thursday.
"This ordinance refers to the order of the Supreme Court which says that the Parliament has the right to make laws on any issue related to the National Capital Territory of Delhi," Amit Shah said. After Independence, even leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and Dr Ambedkar opposed full statehood for Delhi, he added. In response, CM Arvind Kejriwal said that bill :snatches away the rights of the people of Delhi." "There is a bill that makes them helpless and helpless. INDIA will never let this happen."
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The Delhi Ordinance Bill proposes to replace an ordinance giving the Centre control over Delhi's bureaucrats. The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday by Amit Shah. It replaces an ordinance promulgated in May that effectively overruled a Supreme Court order giving control of services in Delhi to the elected government in all matters except policing, land, and public order.
Amit Shah speaks on Delhi Ordinance Bill
When the Bill was taken up for discussion on Thursday, Amit Shah took a dig at the opposition alliance's support to AAP against the ordinance and said, "Think about Delhi, don't think about alliance.Even after (the opposition) forming alliance, Narendra Modi will become PM again with full majority.."
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Hitting out at the opposition, he said, "In the year 2015, a party came to power in Delhi whose only motive was to fight, not serve...The problem is not getting right to do transfer postings, but getting control of the vigilance department to hide their corruption like building their bungalows."
Opposing the GNCTD Bill, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury cited that Supreme Court judgment which empowered the Delhi Assembly to make decisions regarding civil services in Delhi. He claimed that if the Bill was allowed to pass, then the Centre would overrule elected Assemblies in other states and make decisions for them.
Chowdhury wondered what's the point of electing MPs and MLAs if it is the bureaucrats who end up running the government. "Please don't break the system of checks and balances by bringing such a bill," he said.
The AAP on Tuesday termed the Delhi Services Bill the most "undemocratic" piece of paper ever tabled in Parliament. The party also said the bill will replace democracy with "babucracy". Delhi Chief Arvind Kejriwal had earlier led the effort to unite Opposition leaders and put up a front against the bill, which replaces an ordinance promulgated in May.
