The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which was introduced by the Centre in Parliament, has been criticised by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi as an attempt to curtail the powers of the elected government. AAP MP from the Rajya Sabha Sanjay Singh spoke to The Sunday Guardian. Excerpts:
Q: Why is the AAP protesting against the amendment bill bought by Central government in Parliament?
A: The constitutional bench of the Supreme Court has already passed the verdict in which the apex court said that elected government in Delhi is the only ruling government, and the elected Chief Minister is the Chief Minister of Delhi, but the BJP wants to turn around the verdict of the Supreme Court and wants to end the powers of the elected government and ultimately wants to make L-G the government of Delhi. The verdict of the Supreme Court clearly laid out that the L-G would be bound by the advice of the elected government, except in matters pertaining to police, land and law and order. The amendment now provides for concurrence of the L-G in matters of day-to-day functioning of the administration.
Q: Why do you think that the bill has been introduced now?
A: You have seen that in the recently held MCD bypolls, the people have given major mandate to Aam Aadmi Party which shows that the people does not like the BJP in the national capital; rather, they are happy with the work of the AAP. It is an attempt by the Bharatiya Janata Party to curtail the powers of the elected government after people rejected it in the Assembly polls last year and the civic body bypolls held recently.
Q: How far you will take this fight further?
A: I spoke to other political parties and MPs to oppose this bill in both Houses of Parliament and I got a positive response. From Parliament to streets of the national capital, we will fight against this unconstitutional bill introduced by the Centre.