Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal met Stalin in Chennai amid ongoing efforts by the AAP national convenor to rally support from non-BJP parties to defeat the ordinance in Parliament. The TMC, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), Bharat Rashtra Samithi and the CMP are some of the major parties that have announced their decision to back Kejriwal.
“Arvind Kejriwal is a good friend … the Modi-led BJP government is pressuring Delhi UT and AAP government there, by using the Lt Governor. The BJP government will bring an ordinance on Delhi and DMK will strongly oppose it. We had a discussion on other leaders’ views and I appeal to all leaders to support Kejriwal,” said Stalin during a joint press conference, flanked by Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann.
“The Centre is creating a crisis in the Aam Aadmi Party and is preventing a duly elected government from functioning independently despite the Supreme Court verdict in favour of the AAP government,” noted Stalin.
Kejriwal said the ordinance must be collectively defeated in Parliament. “It is undemocratic, against federalism and unconstitutional,” he added.
Congress undecided
The Congress has so far not made its position clear on the matter.
“The Congress should support this (opposition of Centre’s ordinance on control of services in Delhi) as this is undemocratic and against the federal structure,” Kejriwal said, adding that “coordination among non-BJP ruled states” is the only way to “protect democracy” and defeat the ordinance.
“I have sought an appointment with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul, and I am waiting for their response. I am confident that the Congress will support us,” said the Delhi CM.
Mann said the DMK government had to put up a fight against a Governor who not only refrained from passing the Assembly bills but also did not read out the speech prepared by the state government. “I am facing similar problems in my state. I had to move the Supreme Court to call a Budget session because the Governor wasn’t allowing it,” Mann said and added, “We seek the DMK’s support to save democracy.”
Delhi ordinance
The Centre had on May 19 promulgated the ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, which the AAP government had called a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services.
The ordinance came a week after the apex court handed over the control of services in Delhi, excluding police, public order and land, to the elected government. It seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre.
The Centre will have to bring a bill in Parliament to replace the ordinance within six months of its promulgation.
Transfer and postings of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the lieutenant governor before the top court’s May 11 verdict.
(With inputs from agencies)
