Delhi Services Bill passed in Lok Sabha; Opposition walks out

The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which will replace an ordinance promulgated for handling the transfers and postings of senior officers in the city government, was passed in Lok Sabha on Thursday (August 3) amid  walkout by Opposition parties.

The Delhi Services Bill was passed after a nearly four-hour-long debate which was replied to by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Shah made it clear that the central government has the power to make laws on Union territories and Delhi, being a Union Territory, the Centre enjoys full rights to make rules also.

Launching a scathing attack on the Opposition for joining hands against the central governments move to bring the Bill, Shah predicted that once the bill is passed, the Opposition alliance will collapse.

He alleged that the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government in Delhi has not been functioning within rules and it is even not convening assembly session regularly. Even the cabinet meeting of the Delhi government is not convened regularly, he said.

“The bill is constitutionally valid and it is for the benefit of the people of Delhi,” he said.

Shah also asked the Opposition parties to support the bill, saying it is for the welfare of the people of the national capital.

As the bill was being passed, members of several Opposition parties walked out of the Lok Sabha as a mark of protest.

AAP member Sushil Kumar Rinku, who tore a copy of the bill and thew it towards the chair, was subsequently suspended by Speaker Om Birla for the remaining part of the Monsoon session for unruly behaviour.

During his address, Shah also said the government was ready for a discussion on the situation in violence-hit Manipur for as long as the opposition wants and that he would respond to it.