With the Delhi services bill set to be taken up in Rajya Sabha on Monday, the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party have issued whips to their MPs asking them to be present in the Upper House till its adjournment. The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, has already been passed by Lok Sabha.
Hailing the AAP government in Delhi, Sanjay Raut of the Uddhav Thackeray faction said the Arvind Kejriwal administration is doing good work in various fields and that’s why the Bharatiya Janata Party is “jealous”.
“This bill is an attack on the federal structure of India. During the elections, they (BJP) had said that they would give statehood to Delhi but lost the election to Arvind Kejriwal. The Kejriwal government is doing good work in various fields including education and health. They are jealous… We will oppose it in the Rajya Sabha,” Raut told reporters.
Raut’s Shiv Sena (UBT) party is part of the Opposition’s I.N.D.I.A bloc, which was formed to take on the NDA government in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak, who gave a notice under Rule 66 and Rule 67 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States to oppose taking up for consideration and passage ‘The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill 2023’, alleged that the bill is being brought to stop Kejriwal from moving forward in politics.
“This bill is being brought to stop Arvind Kejriwal from moving forward in politics. The Congress party and other parties are supporting us. They (central government) are bringing this bill for their political interest. We will go among the public and expose the BJP…,” he said.
Sushil Gupta, another AAP MP, said, “This is an experimental bill that the BJP is introducing, starting from Delhi…wherever there are non-BJP governments, they will introduce this bill and weaken the state government. The parties which believe in Democracy will oppose this…”
Jairam Ramesh, the Congress’ chief whip in the Upper House, issued a three-line whip on August 4, saying that “very important issues will be taken up for discussion in Rajya Sabha on Monday i.e. August 7, 2023”.
“All members of Congress Party in Rajya Sabha are requested to kindly remain present in the House from 11 am onwards till the adjournment of the House on Monday, August 7, 2023, without fail and support the party stand,” the chief whip said.
This may be treated as most important, Ramesh added.
On Sunday, a reminder was also sent to the party’s MPs in Rajya Sabha.
“Be present positively in Rajya Sabha from 10:45 am onwards till the adjournment of the House on Monday i.e. August 7, 2023, and support the party stand, as important items of Legislative Business will be taken up for voting. Three-line whip in this regard has already been issued,” the reminder said.
The AAP also issued a whip to all its MPs, asking them to be present in the Rajya Sabha on Monday and Tuesday.
In May, the Centre had promulgated the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, that effectively nullified a Supreme Court judgment that handed over control of “services” in the NCT administration to the Delhi government.
The bill seeks to replace the ordinance on transfers and postings of senior officers in the Delhi government.
Union home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to move corresponding bill for consideration and passage in Rajya Sabha on Monday.
Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) parties will make all-out efforts to thwart the government’s move to pass the bill even as the numbers are stacked in favour of the NDA with BJD and YSRCP pledging their support to the government on the bill.
The ruling NDA has over 100 MPs in the Upper House, and the BJD and the YSRCP have also announced their support to the Bill. It is also likely to be backed by nominated members and some Independents in the 238-member strong House.
The 26-bloc INDIA alliance of opposition parties is hoping to thwart the bill in the House.
