Mamata supports Kejriwal, seeks Opposition unity to defeat Ordinance in Rajya Sabha

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi chief Arvind Kejriwal, accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Balwant Singh Mann, flew into Kolkata on Tuesday afternoon to meet his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee and to seek her support as part of a nationwide tour to garner support for his fight against the Centre’s Ordinance on control of services in Delhi. After a meeting at State Government headquarter Nabanna, Mamata came out in support of Kejriwal.

“This is a great opportunity for the Opposition parties to come together before the 2024 elections. I appeal to all the Opposition parties to work unitedly against the BJP. If we can defeat the BJP, it will be a great message that will go to the people of India. The Trinamool Congress has decided that it will oppose this Ordinance in the Rajya Sabha and also take it up with the Supreme Court to demand justice,” Mamata Banerjee said at the joint press conference. “There is great atrocity being perpetrated on the Opposition ruled States. The BJP is always trying to prevent the democratically elected Opposition parties from functioning. Only the Supreme Court can save the country today. But we see that the Central Government is trying to undermine the Supreme Court verdict illegally by bringing in this Ordinance,” she said.

Kejriwal is taking on the Central Ordinance setting up a National Capital Civil Service Authority which essentially overturns a Supreme Court order passed last week, giving control of services, excluding those related to police, public order and land, to the elected Government in Delhi. “Today, I am starting my journey around the country for the rights of the people of Delhi. The Supreme Court passed a judgement giving justice to the people of Delhi. The Centre snatched away those rights by bringing the ordinance,” Kejriwal had said in a tweet in the morning.

“When this comes to the Rajya Sabha, it has to be ensured that it is not passed. I will meet the leaders of all political parties and ask for support,” he added. The Aam Aadmi Party has also announced that it will hold a ‘maha-rally’ at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on June 11 against the “Black Ordinance”.

Kejriwal had earlier met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the Ordinance issue and the latter extended full support to AAP in its tussle with the Centre on the matter.
The Central Ordinance sets up a National Capital Civil Service Authority where the Chief Minister will be the sole representative of the elected Government. The authority will handle the transfer of IAS and DANICS cadre officers and also matters of disciplinary proceedings against them.

The Central Ordinance has to be ratified by Parliament within six months. For this, the Centre will have to bring a bill for its passage in both Houses of Parliament.