over Thursday, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj accused Congress’ Delhi unit leadership of “politics of convenience” over the Centre’s legislation on Delhi services.
Bharadwaj told a press conference that although the Delhi Congress is refusing to assist the AAP on the Delhi services issue, former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit supported a 2002 Delhi Assembly resolution against the BJP-led Central Government. Ajay Maken, a prominent Congress politician and former Union Minister, denied Bharadwaj’s assertion.
Arvind Kejriwal seeks a “unique privilege previously denied to Chief Ministers like Sheila Dikshit, Madan Lal Khurana, Sahib Singh Verma, and Sushma Swaraj,” he said.
Sheila Dikshit previously denounced the central government instructions as a breach of democratic norms. “She had passed a similar resolution in the Delhi Assembly in 2002 against the Centre that said they don’t recognize Government of NCT of Delhi and that there can be only one government in Delhi,” the Delhi minister added.
Delhi Congress is playing politics of convenience for the BJP.
Bharadwaj told a news conference that “sidelined party leaders” made the comments.
He said that Sheila Dikshit only had issues with the BJP government during her first term.
From 2004 through 2013, the Manmohan Singh-led Centre consulted her on land, public order, and police issues.
He noted that renowned Congress leader Maken has earlier recognised the Delhi Chief Minister’s powers as equal to those of any other state’s Chief Minister.
Bharadwaj was dissatisfied with Maken’s behavior, accusing him of deceiving Delhi residents and supporting the BJP.
“The legislative assembly takes cognizance of the fact that constitutionally the LG is entrusted with three, and only three subjects and powers with respect to Entry 1, 2 and 18 of the State List,” he stated, reading another section of the 2002 resolution. Again, the LG’s sole powers in Delhi are land, public order, and police.
2002 Congress party resolution states this.
Congress leaders have been claiming that services were always with the Central Government. He said, “Their untruth was exposed today.”
Ajay Maken, a senior Congress MP, reacted to Bharadwaj by saying that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seeks a “unique privilege previously denied to Chief Ministers like Sheila Dikshit, Madan Lal Khurana, Sahib Singh Verma, and Sushma Swaraj”.
“Never denied that Sheila Dikshit Ji sought full Statehood or expanded authority. Maken tweeted that Kejriwal seeks a privilege denied to Chief Ministers like Sheila Dikshit, Madan Lal Khurana, Sahib Singh Verma, and Sushma Swaraj. If they “comprehend the essence” of National Capital Territory, the AAP “should retract their demand,” Maken stated.
Not empowering Delhi. Reasons must exist. Delhi is the National Capital and belongs to the nation. Thus, cooperative federalism does not apply.
Delhi is called the “National Capital Territory of Delhi” in the constitution. If AAP supporters understand “National Capital Territory,” they should politely drop their demands,” Maken tweeted. Instead of “seeking more authority to mask inefficiency,” the AAP could improve the city.
“Patel, Nehru, Shastri, Narasimha Rao, Vajpayee, to Manmohan Singh till 2014, none were granted what AAP is currently demanding from Modi,” the Congress leader remarked.
Maken has previously said that the Congress should not oppose the planned legislation to replace the Centre’s law on Delhi services.
Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit has called AAP’s claims that it is not permitted to work in Delhi “an excuse” and “useless”.
On Tuesday, Kejriwal met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to seek political backing for the Centre’s law on service administration in the national capital. During their meeting this week, he solicited Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s assistance.
