New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party has threatened to walk out of the mega Opposition meet in Patna on Friday if the Congress did not support its fight against a central ordinance that has curbed the AAP-ruled Delhi government’s power over its bureaucrats, news agency ANI quoted sources.
AAP has approached like-minded parties for help to block the ordinance in Rajya Sabha, where the BJP does not have adequate numbers.
The Centre on 20 May promulgated an ordinance creating a new statutory authority to handle transfer and posting of bureaucrats in the national capital.
By doing so, it effectively nullified the effect of a Supreme Court ruling on 11 May that gave the Delhi government – and not the Centre — administrative and legislative control over the “services”.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had expressed hope Tuesday that the Congress would be asked by other parties to clear its stand on the ordinance in the 23 June meeting in Patna.
The meeting of several Opposition parties has been called by Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar for anti-BJP players to chalk out a strategy for the Lok Sabha polls.
Kejriwal, who is also the AAP national convener, said Tuesday that he would explain to other leaders how such an ordinance could be brought for even full-fledged states.
“I will take the Constitution with me and explain to them that the ordinance is not only for Delhi but can be brought in full states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and West Bengal. Such an ordinance can be brought on subjects like education, and electricity that are in the concurrent list,” he said.
“I hope the parties will ask the Congress to clear its stand on the issue. The ordinance will be the first issue that will be discussed at the meeting,” Kejriwal said.
Kejriwal, who has met several Opposition leaders, had reached out to the Congress on 26 May, seeking time for a chat on the issue.
The Congress has held out, saying it would consult its state units and other like-minded parties over the support in Parliament.
Kejriwal’s party is the Congress’s rival in states like Delhi and Punjab and had also launched a high-voltage campaign against the BJP and the Congress in the Gujarat elections last year.
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