Kejriwal appeals to Centre to take back bill on LG powers

AAP stages sit-in at Jantar Mantar against bill to grant LG more power

Hundreds showed up at Jantar Mantar on March 17, to protest against the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021. Calling it unconstitutional, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which is in power in Delhi, urged the centre to take the bill back that seeks to redefine certain roles and powers of the Lieutenant Governor of the national capital.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal speaking at the protest said the Centre wants to weaken his government through this bill. “I want to appeal to the Centre to take back the GNCTD Bill, don’t cheat the people with this legislation,” Kejriwal said.

He accused the government of wanting to sneakily take command over Delhi and stop the rule of the people. Referring to past elections, he said while the BJP lost in states it would buy MLAs and bring them into power. And because AAP’s MLAs weren’t being bought, this law would finish the rule of the state, he added.

The chief minister was joined on the stage by AAP MLAs and councillors. Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said the BJP was against the AAPs Deshbhakti budget (2021 budget) and didn’t want “our children” to be educated, nor for people to be able to get healthcare. “The BJP want water, electricity, schools, hospitals to remain expensive and the common man to beg for them,” Sisodia went on to say.

Even as Covid positive cases are on the rise in Delhi, the protest did not maintain social distancing norms and many were seen without masks Credit: Sashikala VP

The GNCTD (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was introduced in Lok Sabha by Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy on Monday.

According to the bill, the “government” in the city would mean the “Lieutenant Governor” in context of any law made by the legislative assembly. The bill also makes it mandatory for the Delhi government to take the opinion of the LG before any executive action.

Delhi Congress members led by unit president Anil Kumar also staged a sit-in at Jantar Mantar here on Wednesday against the bill, demanding that the government withdraw it.

“We are protesting against autocracy of the Centre and the murder of democracy in Delhi through this bill,” Kumar said.

Though the Congress does not have a Member of Parliament or an MLA from Delhi, the party was the first to speak against the bill as a “responsible opposition,” he claimed.

“We are concerned about the welfare of the people of Delhi,” the Congress leader said, claiming that the bill “will make a mockery of the people’s power to elect a government and representatives of their choice.”

(WITH INPUTS FROM PTI )

(Cover: Protesters at Jantar Mantar // Credit: Sashikala VP)