Lok Sabha passes bill to replace ordinance for control of services in Delhi

Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the bill to replace the ordinance for control of services in Delhi with Home Minister Amit Shah launching a sharp attack on parties of the I.N.D.I.A bloc, saying that their priority is to “save their alliance”. The National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was passed by a voice vote after a walkout by members of I.N.D.I.A alliance. In his reply to the debate, Amit Shah said that opposition parties did not take part in the debate on any bill passed in the House and kept protesting on their demands over the debate on the Manipur situation. Pointing towards the opposition benches, he asked what has changed that they were taking part in the bill concerning Delhi. “The opposition’s priority is to save their alliance. The opposition is not worried about Manipur…Everyone is talking about the rights of a state. But which state? Delhi is not a state but a Union Territory…The Parliament has the right to make laws for Delhi…," Amit Shah said. Earlier, moving the bill for passage in the House, Amit Shah made a strong attack on the AAP government and said that the administrative arrangement in Delhi was working fine under Congress and BJP governments until a new party came to power in the national capital in 2015. Taking a veiled dig at AAP, he said the aim of the party is not to work for people but to “fight” with the Centre. He also targeted AAP and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over alleged corruption in the renovation of bungalows. “In the year 2015, a party came to power in Delhi whose only motive was to fight, not serve…The problem is not getting right to do transfer postings, but getting control of the vigilance department to hide their corruption like building their bungalows,” Amit Shah said. With AAP a member of the I.N.D.I.A bloc of opposition parties, Amit Shah said they should support the bill on the basis of what is good for Delhi and not on any other consideration. He said Delhi being the national capital has special provisions in Constitution. The ordinance on the control of services in Delhi was promulgated in May days after the Supreme Court verdict on the issue. The Bill empowers the Central Government to make rules in connection with the affairs of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi including the functions, terms and other conditions of service of officers and employees. Arvind Kejriwal has been seeking support of opposition parties against the bill, especially in the Rajya Sabha.