Parliament’s Monsoon Session: Lok Sabha Passes Delhi Services Bill, Opposition Walks Out

The Lok Sabha passed the Delhi services bill on Thursday, prompting opposition MPs to stage a walkout in protest. The measure is officially named as The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

The Delhi services bill, if approved by the Rajya Sabha as well, will take place of an existing ordinance that ignores a Supreme Court ruling giving the Delhi government power over the majority of services. The legislation has been a key bone of contention between the Center and Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP.

ARVIND KEJRIWAL REACTS

Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, responded to the Lok Sabha’s approval of the bill by recalling the BJP’s earlier pledge to grant Delhi “full statehood.”

Kejriwal lamented that “today, these people (BJP) stabbed the people of Delhi in the back” in reference to the measure that eliminates state oversight of transfer assignments.

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“The BJP has vowed repeatedly to grant Delhi complete statehood. In 2014, Modi himself declared that if elected prime minister, he will grant Delhi complete statehood. However, today these individuals stabbed the citizens of Delhi in the back. Arvind Kejriwal declared on X (formerly known as Twitter): “Don’t believe anything of Modi ji from now on.

Sanjay Singh, leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), who has been placed on administrative leave for the remainder of the Monsoon session of Parliament, claimed that “Indian democracy was killed today in the Parliament” in response to the Lok Sabha’s adoption of the Delhi services bill.

LOK SABHA DEBATE ON DELHI SERVICES BILL

Amit Shah, the union home minister, spoke to the nearly four-hour-long debate on the Delhi services bill, which was then approved.

Shah made it abundantly apparent that the central government has the authority to enact laws on Union territories, and that as Delhi is a Union Territory, the Center has the authority to do so.

In his words, “The measure is constitutionally valid and it is for the people of Delhi.

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He also made fun of the AAP-led Delhi government by claiming that in the past, the BJP and Congress regimes in Delhi and at the Centre have cooperated without conflict.

But according to him, issues didn’t start until 2015, when “a party came to power in Delhi, whose only motive was to fight, and not serve.”

Amit Shah presented the measure to Parliament on Tuesday.

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Amit Shah also urged the opposition to support the bill rather than their alliance with INDIA by keeping Delhi in mind.

“I am requesting that all parties refrain from engaging in legislation support or opposition politics solely to win elections or secure the support of one particular party.”

A new alliance can be formed in a variety of ways. The purpose of bills and legislation is to benefit the populace. The wellbeing of Delhi’s residents should be considered when deciding whether to support or reject these, according to Shah.

SERVICES BILL ROW IN DELHI

According to the Delhi services law, the center would have the authority to suspend or investigate authorities in the capital.

On May 11, the Supreme Court had decided in favor of the Delhi administration, giving it power over all services provided in the nation’s capital with the exception of those pertaining to public order, land, and the police.

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The elected administration in Delhi had been given the jurisdiction to handle the transfer and employment of bureaucrats, but on May 19 the Centre presented an act to overturn that ruling. The ordinance will be replaced with the Delhi services law.

The BJP-led Centre is alleged to be trying to undermine the rule of law and seize control of officers in the capital by introducing the “undemocratic” measure, according to the AAP administration in Delhi.