Scrutiny for Delhi Services Bill? I’ll respond to Privileges Committee: Raghav Chadha

NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Monday sought to sidestep the accusations of fraud levelled by Union home minister Amit Shah and the BJP leaders on ‘naming’ five MPs as part of a  proposed select committee to scrutinise the new Delhi Services Bill without their consent.

“I will respond to the Privileges committee. If I’m not concerned over such accusations, why is the media concerned? Let the notice be served upon me, I will appropriately respond publically. No signature was needed to share this,” Chadha told reporters at around 10:10 PM, minutes after Shah successfully tabled the bill.

Chadha, who was sent into the Rajya Sabha by AAP late last year for being rewarded by the party supremo Arvind Kejriwal for his overwhelming success as the architect of mega wins in Punjab elections and helping the party make big forays into Gujarat and Goa state elections, had named five MPs — Sudhanshu Trivedi (BJP), Sasmit Patra (BJD), Phangnon Komyak (BJP) and Narhari Amin (BJP) and Thambi Durai (AIADMK) as part of the committee.

A ruckus ensued when Shah cited at least two of these MPs, countering Chadha’s claims. 

“Two senior MPs are saying they did not sign the motion. And Raghav ji is saying these people signed the motion. It’s no longer a matter concerning fraud of Delhi government. I request the Rajya Sabha speaker to record the statements of two MPs and probe the claims in the Parliament,” said Shah.

Two MPs said Chadha had made fraudulent claims that such a committee was formed with a consent to oversee the new bill.

Chadha, however, was seemingly unperturbed, saying his party and the collobaration of I.N.D.I.A outfit would have no other alternative than to move the apex court again against the Delhi Services bill, while saying unlawful ways were deployed by the BJP to table this bill.

“We, as part of INDIA outfit may have failed to stop this Delhi Services Bill that was brought unlawfully to stop the business of an elected government of Delhi. More than 100 MPs cast their votes against this draconian bill as you saw it today. Three times, this issue was raised before the Supreme Court. In 2018 and 2023, we won it in the Supreme Court. And again the issue has gone to the Constitutional bench of the SC. We will counter it in the apex court,” Chadha said.

Rajya Sabha on Monday passed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 that ought to replaces the ordinance on transfers and postings of the senior officers in the Delhi government. The bill was tabled by the BJP-led Centre that got 131 votes against 102 to clear it in the Rajya Sabha after clearing it in the Lok Sabha a day ago.

BJP Delhi leader Kuljeet Chahal said,” It was a fraud committed by Raghav today. He named Rajya Sabha members as part of a proposed committee without their consent. All of the members have countered him. It calls for an enquiry”

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