Home Ministry circular discriminatory, says AAP

Calling the Ministry of Home Affairs’ May 21 circular a “discriminatory notification”, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the Centre is trampling upon the rights of the Delhi government.

His attack against the Narendra Modi-led government came just before the Delhi Assembly on Wednesday passed the resolution against the MHA notification that gives absolute powers to the Lieutenant Governor in appointments of bureaucrats as well as matters related to police and public order. 

Sisodia said the central government is trying to nudge the Arvind Kejriwal-led government to “the point of misgovernance”.

“The Centre seems to want everything. Now they want ACB. Soon they will ask for power, water and schools,” he said.  

Earlier in the day, unruly scene prevailed in the Delhi Assembly as an AAP legislator tore a copy of the notification in a symbolic gesture of protest.

Participating in a discussion on the Home Ministry’s circular, Rithala MLA Mahendra Singh Goyal accused the Centre for “trying to take away” legitimate powers of the Delhi government.

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday had moved a resolution in the Delhi Assembly against the notification questioning its constitutionality.

Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai said the notification to clarify the Delhi government’s jurisdiction is disrespect to the mandate his party won in the Delhi Assembly elections in February. 

“Don’t believe our MLAs, don’t believe our party but you can’t avoid believing in mandate given to us by the people of Delhi,” he said.

Rai also slammed the Centre for clipping powers of the Delhi anti-corruption branch.
“The Centre is afraid that if ACB remains even Ambani won’t be spared,” the transort minister said.

‘Take salary from Centre’
In a comment that triggered backlash from the three opposition BJP legislators in the House, Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Chandni Chowk Alka Lamba said, “Delhi government should stop paying its employees if MHA notification is not withdrawn. If they are expected to work for the central government, they should seek their salary from it too.”

AAP MLA from Karawal Nagar Kapil Mishra pointed out a newspaper report which quoted BJP Legislature Party leader Vijender Gupta saying that Delhi Assembly should be put under suspended animiation.

“If he has no faith in this Assembly, he should resign and walk out,” he said.
Later, Gupta alleged that the Arvind Kejriwal-led government has led a breakdown of constitutional machinery.