- The Delhi Services Bill, which allows the Centre to retain control over the bureaucracy in Delhi, seeks to replace an ordinance that the Modi-led government promulgated in May this year.
- Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi slammed the Central government over the bill and said “It is an attack on federal democracy”.
- Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister said that Home Ministry has properly constituted this bill and a decision has been taken according to the framework of the constitution.
- The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) announced that it will support the bill replacing the Delhi services ordinance in the Parliament.
- With nine BJD MPs, the NDA tally rises to 109. BJP needs 11 more votes to see the bill through and the INDIA coalition needs 12 to oppose it.
The Delhi Services Bill, which allows the Centre to retain control over the bureaucracy in Delhi, seeks to replace an ordinance that the Modi-led government promulgated in May this year. The bill overturns a Supreme Court order in May that gave the Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal-led government the powers in all spheres except policing, public order, and land.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi slammed the Central government over the bill to replace the ordinance on the control of services in Delhi and said that bill is unconstitutional, immoral and undemocratic.
While speaking to a news agency, Priyanka Chaturvedi said, “This is not about numbers. It is an attack on federal democracy. Is the Centre above the elected government in Delhi and the Supreme Court? Even silent allies of the BJP should protest against it. Today it has happened in Delhi, tomorrow it can happen in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana or Odisha.”
Meanwhile, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said that Home Ministry has properly constituted this bill (Delhi Ordinance) and a decision has been taken according to the framework of the constitution.
Earlier the bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha which seeks to replace the Ordinance brought by the Centre in May, excluding certain services from the legislative competence of the Delhi legislative assembly.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had personally called on top Opposition leaders, in a bid to solicit their support for the Centre’s Ordinance on the control of services in the national capital.
Opposition members from the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A), including the Congress, have already cleared their stand over the Bill, saying they would oppose it as it will destroy the federal structure of governance.
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) announced that it will support the bill replacing the Delhi services ordinance in the Parliament and oppose the no-confidence motion proposed by various opposition parties against the government.
BJD spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra said the party has asked its Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha MPs to be present in the House during the discussion. The BJD’s support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the bill replacing the Delhi services ordinance is crucial as the alliance does not have a clear majority in Rajya Sabha.
Reacting to the development, the opposition Congress said BJD now stood exposed. “It is not with the INDIA alliance and has surrendered before BJP,” said BK Patnaik, campaign committee chairman of State PCC.
With nine BJD MPs, the NDA tally rises to 109. In the 245-member house, the majority mark is 120 as some seats are vacant. The YSR Congress Party with 9 Rajya Sabha MPs is expected to support the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.
The opposition alliance INDIA has 108 MPs including 7 MPs of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). The BJP needs 11 more votes to see the bill through and the INDIA coalition needs 12.
(With inputs from agencies)
