Ordinance Row: AAP Leader Gopal Rai Urges People To Join 'Maha Rally' On His Door-To-Door Campaign In Delhi Today

The Aam Aadmi Party has called for a 'maha rally' on June 11 against the Centre's ordinance on the control of postings and transfers of Indian Administrative Services officials in Delhi. The AAP Delhi state convener and cabinet minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday urged people to join the rally to support their cause.

The ordinance issued by the Centre on May 19 set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority, bringing back executive control over matters related to services to its domain.

It was issued close on the heels of a Supreme Court verdict on May 11, through which the Delhi government was given the executive control over service-related matters, including the transfers and postings of Delhi government officers but excluding those related to police, public order and land.

During the door-to-door campaign in Civil Lines on Tuesday, Rai engaged with residents to discuss the central government's ordinance and encouraged them to join the rally and raise their voices in opposition to the ordinance.

Rai said 'Maha Rally Mandal Committees' have been formed in every mandal of Delhi and approximately 2,000 meetings have been held so far for the rally scheduled to be held at Ramlila Maidan on June 11.

"Following the Supreme Court's verdict that granted the elected government the authority to manage the system in Delhi, so as to safeguard the rights of the voters of Delhi, the government of Delhi felt empowered to accomplish its tasks more efficiently," Rai said.

"However, the BJP-led central government and the prime minister have disregarded the Supreme Court's decision through an Ordinance, therefore depriving the people of Delhi of their rights. Consequently, the citizens of Delhi are dismayed and disheartened, wondering why their voting rights are being dishonoured," the minister added.

Sharing further details about AAP’s rally, Rai said volunteers are distributing pamphlets to Delhi’s residents in the ongoing door-to-door campaign.

Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been reaching out to leaders of non-BJP parties to garner their support against the ordinance so that the Centre's bid to replace it through a bill is defeated when it is brought in Parliament.

The AAP chief will meet Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow on Wednesday.

(With PTI inputs)