“Think About Delhi, Not Alliance”: Amit Shah Jabs INDIA’s Support For AAP

The opposition should be concerned about Delhi and not their newly minted INDIA coalition, Union Home Minister Amit Shah charged on Thursday, as he vociferously defended the government’s bill to override a Supreme Court order on who controls bureaucrats in the country’s capital.

Introducing the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Lok Sabha, seeking to replace the ordinance for control of services in Delhi, he said, “This ordinance refers to the order of the Supreme Court which says that the parliament has the right to make laws on any issue related to the National Capital Territory of Delhi. There are provisions in the constitution that allow the centre to make laws for Delhi.”

“I appeal to parties to not support all the corruption taking place in Delhi just because you are in an alliance. Because despite the alliance, PM Modi will win the election with a full majority,” Mr Shah said, baiting the Aam Aadmi Party which governs Delhi and is now part of the INDIA coalition.

“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,” he said.

Making his case, he claimed India’s founding fathers like Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, C Rajagopalachari, Rajendra Prasad and BR Ambedkar were against the idea of Delhi getting the status of a full state.

In a fiery critique of the AAP government, Mr Shah argued that administrative affairs in Delhi had operated smoothly under various governments until the party’s ascent in 2015.

The ordinance concerning control of Delhi’s bureaucracy, known as services, was issued in May, to override a Supreme Court verdict that ruled in favour of the elected AAP government led by Arvind Kejriwal.

The bill empowers the central government to establish rules related to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi’s affairs, including the functions, terms, and conditions of service for officers and employees.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has sought the opposition’s support against the bill, particularly in the Rajya Sabha, where the government does not have a majority. However, with the support of three key regional parties who are not part of the INDIA opposition bloc, the bill is expected to comfortably sail through the upper house.