Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday got resounding support in the Rajya Sabha from the Opposition members, who batted for more powers for the Delhi government and criticised Lt. Governor Anil Baijal’s constant intervention in the working of the State.
The House was debating the NCT of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2017, that extends immunity to illegal constructions in Delhi till December 31, 2020. The Bill, which was passed by the Lok Sabha last week, went through the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
Samajwadi Party member Naresh Agarwal said Mr. Baijal had been treating Mr. Kejriwal as a peon. “The Delhi government has no powers. The Lt. Governor treats the Chief Minister like a peon,” he said.
Trinamool Congress member Nadimul Haque said: “Why isn’t the elected government of Delhi allowed to run? It has been elected democratically by the people of Delhi. The Lt. Governor is dictating...what has to be done. What steps are they taking to rectify this situation?”
He pointed out that Mr. Kejriwal was not invited to the inauguration of a new service (Magenta line) of Delhi Metro, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. “... this one-upmanship should end,” he said, as Opposition members hissed “shame.”
D. Raja of the CPI said: “How long can we allow this conflict to go on. It is not just Delhi; Puducherry, too, has a similar problem. We will have to take a re-look at the issue.”
Replying to the debate, Minister for Urban Affairs Hardeep Puri said the inauguration of the Magenta line was only for the Uttar Pradesh section, so Mr. Kejriwal was not invited.
