Delhi State Chief Arvind Kejriwal on Monday accused the central government led by Narendra Modi of trying to curtail the powers of an elected government drastically through a Bill in Parliament and hand the powers to Modi's appointed Lieutenant Governor (LG).
Referring to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which federal Home Minister Amit Shah tabled on Monday in the parliament’s lower house, Kejriwal said the BJP was trying to introduce the Bill after the people rejected them in recent elections.
Kejriwal was pointing to the February by-elections held for the city’s civic body in which the BJP lost all five of its seats – four to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and one to the Congress party.
The Bill will give more power to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal.
The central government introduced the Bill to amend the Government of the National Capital of Delhi Act, 1991, to define the power of Delhi Lieutenant Governor in a better and clear manner.
In February, a draft of the Bill was cleared by the federal union cabinet, making the Kejriwal government to describe it as a "murder of constitutional democracy".
Deputy State Chief Manish Sisodia had alleged that the Bill would "snatch the power of Delhi's elected government and give it to the Centre-appointed L-G".
According to the proposed amendments, the elected government needs to send legislative proposals to the Lieutenant-Governor at least 14 days in advance to seek his opinion and avoid any delays.
According to sources, the Kejriwal government is set to challenge the proposed amendment in the court.