Lok Sabha passes Bill that seeks to clarify that 'government' in Delhi means 'Lieutenant Governor'

The bill also makes it mandatory for the Delhi government to take the opinion of the L-G before any executive action

Lok Sabha on Monday passed a Bill that seeks to make it clear that the "government" in Delhi means the "Lieutenant Governor", amid strong opposition from Congress and AAP which said that the legislation is "unconstitutional".

The Bill was introduced in the Lower House on March 15 and now the Bill will have to be passed in Rajya Sabha.

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Replying to the debate on the Bill, Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said that the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill has become necessary as there has been ambiguity in certain issues related to the functioning of the Delhi government.

Reddy said that it was wrong to say that it was a "political bill", as it is being brought to end ambiguity in governance as Delhi is a Union Territory. He said that it would end "confusion or technicality and enhance the efficiency of the administration" in the national capital.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "passage of GNCTD Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha today is an insult to the people of Delhi. The Bill effectively takes away powers from those who were voted by people and gives powers to run Delhi to those who were defeated. BJP has cheated the people."

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Taking part in the debate, Congress MP Manish Tewari said that the bill is "unconstitutional" as it encroached upon the powers of the city government.

AAP MP Bhagwant Mann alleged that the Centre is "a specialist in abusing the rights of states" and wants to rule Delhi through the soul of the British-era Viceroy.

Opposing the Bill, Mann said, "the Delhi L-G lives in the house the Viceroy used to stay during the British rule. Maybe, the Centre wants to run Delhi through the soul of Viceroy."

"If the chief minister of Delhi cannot take any decision, then what's the point of conducting assembly polls...The Centre is a specialist in abusing the rights of states, whether it was in the case of farm laws or in running state governments through governors," he added.