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Delhi CM and AAP national convenor terms centre’s ordinance a slap in the face of the judiciary
NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal strongly denounced the Centre’s ordinance on Services, stating that it represents a slap in the face of the judiciary. He said he will soon hold a mega rally and will request that the opposition parties oppose the ordinance in the Rajya Sabha.
In a series of scathing remarks, Kejriwal, who is also the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), accused the Centre of disregarding the mandate of the people of Delhi and launching a direct attack on the SC and the federal structure of the Constitution.
According to the Delhi CM, the Centre deliberately waited for the Supreme Court’s vacation period. This period coincided with the absence of key officials such as the Services Secretary and Chief Secretary from work, as well as delays in clearing important files by the Lieutenant Governor (LG).
Highlighting the actions of the Services Secretary and Chief Secretary, he pointed out that they had mysteriously disappeared for several days, causing significant delays in the Central Services Board (CSB) meeting and subsequent transfers. He said these actions were part of a deliberate effort to hinder the functioning of the Delhi government.
Undeterred by the Centre’s ordinance, Kejriwal affirmed his intention to challenge the Centre’s ordinance in court as soon as the SC reopens, confident that it would not withstand legal scrutiny for even five minutes. He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to send a message to the people of Delhi that, regardless of their electoral choices, the BJP would seize power and impose its rule like a dictator.
Asserting that the people of Delhi are tired of BJP’s dictatorship and hooliganism, CM Kejriwal confidently predicted that the BJP would lose all seven Lok Sabha seats in the upcoming elections. Furthermore, he announced that the AAP would organise a Maha-Rally in Delhi soon, and also seek the collective support of the opposition to oppose and reject the ordinance in the Rajya Sabha.
“The Supreme Court, in its order, very clearly said that the government officials of the Delhi government should be answerable to the democratically elected state government. The court in its order also very clearly stated that if this was not the case, and if a government official was aware that the minister cannot transfer or suspend him, then there is no reason for the official to follow the instructions of the minister,” he said.
The Delhi CM asked why the Central Government was waiting for the court to go on vacation before issuing the ordinance.
The Delhi CM said that AAP is a very small political party and what is more important is the country and the people of the country. “Tomorrow there may not be an AAP-led government in Delhi, but this country will remain. Therefore, crushing the ideals of the Constitution of India and the Supreme Court is not right for any political party. We will not tolerate such actions and will certainly go to the Supreme Court against such an ordinance,” he said.
CM Kejriwal said that since the ordinance has been issued, he has been receiving messages and phone calls from people across the country, and he further emphasised that even the BJP supporters have told him that what the central government has done this time is shameful.
“In 2015, the Central Government issued a notification. It could have brought this ordinance at the time. But today, after an 8-year-old fight, which it has clearly lost, and the Supreme Court saying that this is wrong, the BJP now says that it does not believe in what the court says. The entire country is watching this and the people are clearly saying that what the BJP has done is incorrect, “he said.
The Delhi CM further said that he will personally take this issue up with the people and that a “maha-rally” will be conducted on this matter. “Looking at the reaction of the people at the moment, I firmly believe that in the Lok Sabha elections next year, the people will not give the BJP even one out of the seven seats. The people are very angry with the bullying of the BJP and their dictatorial attitude towards the people of Delhi,” he said.
He concluded by saying that through this press conference, he wants to appeal to the other opposition parties and said that when this Bill is introduced in the Rajya Sabha, it should not be allowed to be passed. “I will personally meet the political leaders of different parties and will urge them to oppose this bill in the Rajya Sabha. This bill is against the people of Delhi and we should definitely not allow it to be passed in the Rajya Sabha,” he said.
