Can Modi revoke 3 years 5 months of chaos in Delhi, asks Bhardwaj

The Supreme Court verdict on the tug-of-war between the two power centre's in the national Capital has apparently boosted the morale of AAP- led Delhi Government and provided it an opportunity to accuse the Central Government-led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of creating “chaos” in the national Capital and “ruining” it in the last three-and-a-half years.

“Can Modiji revoke 3 years 5 months of chaos in Delhi? Will Delhi people forgive BJP for ruining 3 years 5 months (sic)?,” AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj asked in a tweet. He drew a parallel between the previous Sheila Dikshit-led Congress Government in Delhi and the current AAP regime and pointed out how the ruling party was obstructed from working in the national Capital.

“The AAP Govt was formed in Feb 2015, three months later, In May 2015, Modi Govt brought this notification which took away 'services' from AAP Govt. This means Sheila Dikshit Govt had all control over her officers/employees, Kejriwal Govt was left with zero control (sic).” “Modi Govt was formed in May 2014 & just 2 months later, Modi Govt brought a notification which took away powers of Anti-Corruption branch. Means Sheila Dikshit had ACB for 15 years but was taken away because Modi was too scared of Arvind Kejriwal and his ACB (sic),” Bhardwaj said in a series of tweets.

He also said the provision of aid and advice of the elected Government was binding on the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) during Dikshit's rule, adding that it was done away with after Kejriwal became the Chief Minister.“Under Sheila Dikshit Govt, Aid & Advice of Elected Govt was binding on L-G. L-G was not free to reject schemes. For Kejriwal Govt, L-G is free to take decisions, has been rejecting all important decisions of Govt. CCTV, Doorstep delivery of Ration, Muholla clinics rejected or delayed (sic),” the AAP leader tweeted.

In a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court on Wednesday held that the L-G did not have independent decision-making powers and was bound to act on the aid and advice of the council of Ministers.

The judgment pronounced by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, who was heading a five-judge Constitution bench, also held that the LG could not act as an “obstructionist”.

It added that all the decisions of the council of ministers must be communicated to the L-G, but that did not mean his concurrence was required.

“There is no room for absolutism and there is no room for anarchism also,” the court ruled.The decision comes as a major victory for the AAP Government, which had been in a constant tussle with the L-G over the powers wielded by the two branches of the executive.