Home Minister Amit Shah hit out at the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government saying they wanted to control the state and its services and that they did not want the truth about expenditure done on the chief ministers’ bungalow to come out. He also took a jibe at the Congress and the coalition, INDIA, saying their alliance will not work as Narendra Modi will return to power again in 2024.
Shah was speaking during the debate on Delhi Services Bill in Lok Sabha. Replying to Shah’s charges, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the government has its disposal so many investigating agencies so they could have easily used them instead of tinkering with the governance structure of the State.
Earlier during the discussion, Shah said some members had raised questions that the government cannot bring the bill, and even questions were raised about the competency of the House, claiming it's against the spirit of the Supreme Court judgements. The home minister quoting the rule book said that the Centre was competent to formulate laws and added that the Opposition MPs have quoted selectively from the Supreme Court.
Shah gave the history of Delhi to articulate his viewpoint. “Delhi was set up in 1911, by the British, after joining Mehruali and Delhi Tehsils and it was taken out of the Punjab state’s jurisdiction. In 1919 and 1935, the British government came out with a notification of Chief Commissioner Province.
After Independence, Pattabhi Sitaramaiah committee recommended state status for Delhi. But when the recommendation came before the assembly, Jawharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Rajaji, Dr Rajendra Prasad and Dr B.R. Ambedkar opposed it saying it will not be appropriate to accord it the status of a state.”
Quoting Nehru, Shah said, since the Sitaramaiah committee report, situation has changed in the city and country. “Delhi has changed a lot. So, we turn away from changed scenario it is not not possible to accept the recommendations of the panel. Nehru even said as three-fourth of land is owned by the Centre, so it makes sense Delhi is under the Centre. Ambedkar winding up the discussions said since it was national capital, it cannot be brought under separate government. He also referred to capital regions in USA.”
Shah said since 1993, the BJP and the Congress had alternate governments in Delhi. There was never a fight or controversy between them. Then situation changed in 2015 when a government came whose main motive was not to serve the State but to keep fighting.
In a frontal attack on the Arvind Kejriwal government, Shah said that the AAP’s main motive was not to control transfer postings in the state but to take control over the Vigilance department so that the truth about expenditure of renovating CM’s bungalow does not come out. “There is corruption happening there, they want to hide it,” he said.
He asked the Opposition to look at the bill rising above the considerations that they are part of the same grouping (INDIA). “There are many ways to form a coalition but they should take decision based on the interests of Delhi and country.”
“They should not think about coalition but think about Delhi. Even after coalition, Narendra Modi will come to power with full majority,” Shah said as he told the Congress that even after they support the AAP, they will not come with it.
Replying during the discussion on the bill, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said he was surprised to hear Shah praising Nehru and the Congress. Shah was quick to reply that he did not praise Nehru but merely quoted his views.
Chowdhury replied that had the BJP listened to Nehru, then Manipur situation would not have happened.
Chowdhury charged that the Delhi Ordinance was against the spirit of democracy and propriety as it was brought within six days after the Supreme Court order. “What was the hurry to bring an Ordinance when the government could have brought a bill in parliament,” he asked.
The Congress leaders said they were opposing the bill not because of the coalition pressure, but it was against the spirit of federalism. Party leaders from DMK, TMC and left parties also opposed the bill.