New Delhi: Predicting that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will sweep all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Friday said the 2024 general elections will be fought to grant “full statehood” to the national capital.
Addressing the Delhi Assembly, Kejriwal attacked the Centre over the formation of the National Capital Civil Services Authority (NCCSA), calling it a “Sanghi model” of democracy.
“The Prime Minister goes abroad to talk about democracy, but (back in India), he tries to crush the same. Democracy has many models, but what kind of model is this three-member authority (NCCSA)? The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) people have the most mischievous minds, it is a Sanghi model,” said Kejriwal.
Kejriwal’s comments come in the backdrop of Services Minister Atishi’s announcement Wednesday that a coordination mechanism will be set up between the Delhi government’s departments and the NCCSA — requiring all proposals to have the concerned minister’s approval before being tabled.
The NCCSA was formed after the Centre brought an ordinance on 19 May giving it power to recommend transfer and postings of civil servants working in Delhi. The Supreme Court had on 11 May handed over the control of services in Delhi to the elected government, headed by Kejriwal.
The Centre’s ordinance was replaced with the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, which was passed in the Parliament earlier this month.
In her announcement, Atishi said that while the Delhi government has challenged the amendments before the Supreme Court, it will respect the law since it has been passed in the Parliament.
The NCCSA is chaired by the Delhi CM and has the chief secretary and principal secretary (home department) as members. The body gives its recommendations to the Delhi lieutenant governor, who has the final say on all matters related to transfers and postings.
Hitting out at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, CM Kejriwal also said the former was unable to explain how the Bill would benefit the residents of Delhi.
“For the party (BJP) that can incite riots, and kill lakhs of people, to win elections; stopping the supply of medicine to the Mohalla Clinics is an easy task,” said Kejriwal, while accusing the BJP-led Centre of halting the Delhi government’s schemes, projects and pensions.
Referring to Shah’s comments recently that the central government has the power to bring such a law, Kejriwal said, “The power was given to you for the welfare of the people, to give them jobs, roads, water, electricity and to work for them. It was not for crushing the Constitution and the rights of the people.”
The Delhi CM also alleged that competent officers were being shifted out of the Delhi government while crucial posts were assigned to “corrupt” and negligent officials.
Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of trying to stop the AAP government from working, Kejriwal further said that the BJP will struggle to secure even two seats in the 2025 Assembly polls.
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