The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has expressed its dissatisfaction with the Congress for its failure to publicly denounce the recent ordinance introduced by the Centre pertaining to Delhi's administrative services. The AAP, in a statement, raised concerns about the Congress' silence, suggesting that it casts doubt on the party's true stance regarding the ordinance, as PTI reported.
This development occurred on a significant day when leaders from 17 opposition parties, including Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, gathered in Patna and agreed to unite and contest the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, setting aside their differences.
Prior to this meeting, the AAP had issued a warning, stating that it would walk out if the Congress did not assure its support against the Centre's ordinance. However, the Congress has yet to make its position on the ordinance public, despite the fact that its Delhi and Punjab units have already expressed support for the Modi government on this matter.
During the meeting of like-minded parties in Patna, several parties urged the Congress to openly denounce the ordinance, but the Congress refused to do so, according to the AAP's statement. The AAP emphasized that the ordinance is not only anti-constitutional and undemocratic but also seeks to overturn the Supreme Court's ruling on the issue, thus posing a direct challenge to the judiciary.
The AAP further expressed its concern over the Congress' hesitance and refusal to act as a team player, particularly on such an important issue. It conveyed that unless the Congress publicly denounces the ordinance and ensures that all 31 of its Rajya Sabha (RS) MPs oppose the ordinance, it will be difficult for the AAP to participate in future meetings involving like-minded parties where the Congress is involved.
The AAP urged the Congress to clarify whether it stands with the people of Delhi or with the Modi government. The party also revealed that in private discussions, senior Congress leaders hinted that their party might informally or formally abstain from voting on the ordinance in the Rajya Sabha.
The AAP cautioned that the Congress' abstention would greatly benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in its efforts to undermine Indian democracy. If unchallenged, this dangerous trend could potentially spread to other states, resulting in the erosion of power from democratically elected state governments. Therefore, the defeat of this "black ordinance" is crucial, the AAP emphasized.
The Centre had issued the ordinance on May 19, establishing a National Capital Civil Service Authority responsible for the transfer and disciplinary proceedings of Group-A officers in Delhi. This move came in response to a Supreme Court verdict on May 11, which granted control of services in the capital, excluding police, public order, and land, to the elected government.
Following the promulgation of the ordinance, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been reaching out to leaders of non-BJP parties to seek their support against the ordinance. The AAP alleges that it has received information from reliable sources indicating an agreement between Rahul Gandhi and the BJP, wherein the Congress would stand with the BJP on the issue of this controversial ordinance.
AAP chief spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar urged the Congress to clarify its position, urging the party to stand firmly with the Constitution rather than aligning with the BJP.
The ordinance introduced by the Centre aims to establish a National Capital Civil Service Authority to handle the transfer and disciplinary proceedings of Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre. Prior to the Supreme Court's verdict, the transfer and postings of all officers in the Delhi government were under the executive control of the lieutenant governor.
