The Union government on May 19 brought an ordinance to notify rules regarding the ‘transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters’ in Delhi
Our Bureau
Chennai/Ranchi/New Delhi
While seeking support against the Centre’s ordinance control over administrative services in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday met his Jharkhand counterpart, Hemant Soren, in Ranchi. Giving a strong message to the Congress party, Kejriwal said that the party has to decide whether it is with “democracy, constitution, and 140 crore people of the country or with PM Modi”. Notably, Kejriwal had on May 23 embarked on a nationwide tour to seek support from the Opposition parties against the Ordinance.
The crisis began after the Union government on May 19 brought an ordinance to notify rules for the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) regarding the ‘transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters’. The ordinance was brought to amend the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 and it circumvents the Supreme Court judgement in the Centre vs Delhi case.
The problem became complicated on Thursday as Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit has said he supports the Centre’s ordinance against the Delhi government. Dikshit said that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is aware that he will be sent to jail for at least 8-10 years if he does not get control of the Vigilance department. Speaking to ANI, Dikshit, son of former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit, said, “I support the ordinance against the Delhi government. CM Arvind Kejriwal is very well aware that if he does not get control of the vigilance department, he will be sent to jail for at least 8-10 years.”
But the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor has so far met West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav.
Addressing the joint press conference with his Jharkhand counterpart Hemant Soren, Kejriwal said, “Last month, a grave injustice was done to the people of Delhi. They were insulted and their democratic rights were snatched. In a landmark judgment on May 11, the Supreme Court ordered that the government elected by the people of Delhi will have the powers. But unfortunately, on May 19, the government circumvented the order by bringing the ordinance. The Modi government said that they won’t allow the elected government to function”.
“The ordinance will now go to the Parliament. BJP has the majority in Lok Sabha but in Rajya Sabha, it only has 93 out of 238 members. So, if all the non-BJP parties come together, this bill can be defeated,” he added.
He further called the ordinance an “attack on the foundation of democracy” and urged all the parties to come together against it.
Responding to a reporter’s question on Congress’ stand on the ordinance, Kejriwal said, “Today, the Congress has to decide whether it is with democracy, constitution, 140 crore people of the country or with Modi Ji”. Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren while assuring support to AAP, lashed out at the Centre and called it an “attack” on the ‘federal structure’ of the country.
Earlier on Thursday, Kejriwal along with Bhagwant Mann met with Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin here and got his support in their fight against Centre’s ordinance on control over administrative services in the national capital.
In a joint press conference, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin said that DMK would strongly oppose the bill replacing the Delhi services ordinance and appealed to other leaders of the Opposition to support Aravind Kejriwal in his fight against the Ordinance. “Arvind Kejriwal is a good friend…Modi-led BJP government is pressuring Delhi Union territory and AAP government there, by using Lt Governor. BJP government will bring a bill (To replace the ordinance) on Delhi and DMK will strongly oppose it,” Tamil Nadu CM Stalin said. “We had a discussion on other leaders’ views and I appeal to all leaders to support Arvind Kejriwal,” he added. In the Joint press conference, Kejriwal said that he had sought an appointment with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and its senior leader Rahul Gandhi for seeking support in the ordinance issue. “I have sought an appointment with Congress President Kharge ji and Rahul ji, and I am waiting for their response. I am confident that Congress will support us,” he said.
