Parliament passes Delhi Services Bill; 'black day for democracy,' says Kejriwal

With 131 MPs voting in its favour, the Rajya Sabha on Monday (August 7) passed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, helping the Narendra Modi government complete the parliamentary process for the proposed legislation that saw opposition parties join ranks.

Besides NDA constituents, the BJD and the YSRCP, which have nine MPs each in the Upper House of Parliament, supported the Delhi services bill.

The Opposition which in its bid to get more votes brought a wheelchair-bound former prime minister Manmohan Singh and an ailing Shibu Soren to the House to shore up its numbers, could manage only 102 votes against the Bill.

Black day for Indian democracy, says Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called the passage of the bill a “black day” for the Indian democracy and accused the BJP-ruled Centre of trying to usurp power in Delhi through “back doors”.

In a video message, the AAP supremo accused the BJP of backstabbing the people of Delhi.

Also read: Delhi Services Bill brought to stop encroachment on Centre’s rights: Amit Shah

The BJP on its part said the legislation will end the “anarchist aadmi party’s heinous misuse of power” to intimidate government servants for their “corrupt objectives”.

In his reply, Shah, who launched a scathing attack on the AAP and the Congress, said the urgency of first bringing an ordinance and now the bill was to stop Delhi’s ruling AAP from transferring officials connected to the probe into the ₹2,000-crore liquor “scam”.

“The BJP is in power in several states and does not need to usurp power in Delhi,” he said responding to a charge that has been repeatedly levelled by the opposition.

The Supreme Court had on May 11 ruled that the elected government of Delhi has control over services in the national capital, excluding the matters relating to public order, police and land.

On May 19, the Centre promulgated the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023 to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi.

The bill will now go to the President for her assent before it becomes a law.

Centre not trying to grab power: Shah

“We have not brought this bill to grab power for the Centre. The Delhi government is trying to encroach on the Centre’s powers and the bill has been brought to legally stop them from doing so,” Shah said.

“We had to bring this bill as lawlessness had crept into Delhi’s governance,” he said, adding that for several years such a problem never cropped up even when there were opposing governments of the Congress and the BJP at the Centre and Delhi.

Shah accused the Congress of opposing a constitutional amendment it had brought earlier only to appease its alliance partners for political reasons.

On the charge of the bill being undemocratic, the home minister hit out at the Congress saying it has no right to lecture on democracy as it had taken away the rights of the common people by imposing Emergency in 1975.

The bill was passed after motions to send the proposed legislation to a select committee of the House, as well as amendments proposed by opposition members, were rejected by voice vote.

Also read: Delhi Services Bill passed in Lok Sabha; Opposition walks out

“The motion is adopted and the bill is passed,” announced Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh after announcing the result of the division of votes sought by opposition members.

Soon after, BJP MPs chanted “Modi, Modi” and thumped desks.

Controversy over forged signatures

A controversy erupted over one of the motions moved by AAP MP Raghav Chadha with at least four MPs, including Sasmit Patra of BJD and M Thambidurai of AIADMK, complaining that their names were included in the proposed select committee on the Delhi services bill without their consent.

Shah said the inclusion of their names without consent was a fraud with Parliament and needs to be probed.

On this, Singh said the issue will be probed but did not give the details immediately.

Shah attacked the AAP, saying, “The AAP is sitting on the same Congress party’s lap which originally introduced the provisions that are included in the bill today. Just to appease the AAP, Congress is opposing its own laws.”

Also read: AAP opposition to Delhi services bill aimed at hiding corruption: Amit Shah

Shah also slammed the Opposition alliance INDIA, saying, “What ideology does the Opposition talk about? The AAP was formed opposing the Congress but today they stand together. As per which ideology the Trinamool Congress is siding with the Communists as it was formed while opposing it. The Congress and Communist bay for each other’s blood in Kerala but here they are performing ILU ILU. The JD(U) was formed to oppose fodder scams but today they are allies with the RJD”.

“They are together because they know that they cannot achieve anything electorally as individual parties. But they have united just to show numbers. But even then Modi Ji will win the election in 2024,” he added.

(With inputs from agencies)