The Congress on July 16 made it clear that it will not support the Centre's ordinance on the control of services in Delhi and will oppose any such attempt of the Central government to "sabotage federalism" in the country.
Comment | The Delhi ordinance is an unabashed power-grab
Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal said the party's stand is clear as it will oppose any such move by the Centre to intervene in States ruled by Opposition parties through the governors and has decided to oppose the Delhi ordinance in Parliament whenever a bill comes up.
"We are consistently opposing the attempts of the Union government to sabotage federalism. We are consistently opposing the attitude of the Central government to run the opposition states through the governors. Our stand is very clear, we are not going to support the Delhi ordinance," he told PTI.
Explained | How will the new Ordinance affect ‘services’ in Delhi?
With the Congress making its stand clear on the Delhi ordinance issue, Mr. Venugopla hoped that the AAP will now participate in the upcoming meeting of the Opposition parties in Bengaluru starting July 17.
“I think they are going to join the meeting tomorrow. This is our thinking,” the Congress leader said.
Congress’ unequivocal opposition to Delhi ordinance ‘a positive development’: AAP
Reacting to Mr. Venugopal’s remarks, AAP MP and national spokesperson Raghav Chadha said that the Congress’ “unequivocal opposition” to the Delhi ordinance was a “positive development”.
“Congress announces its unequivocal opposition to the Delhi Ordinance. This is a positive development,” Mr. Chadha tweeted.
The AAP is, however, yet to make it clear if it will join a meeting of several Opposition parties. The party had earlier said it would join the meeting only if the Congress extended its support to the AAP in opposing the Delhi ordinance in Parliament.
In their first meeting in Patna, the Opposition parties resolved to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The BJP-led Central government brought the ordinance on the transfer and posting of bureaucrats in Delhi in May, virtually negating a Supreme Court verdict giving the elected government in Delhi the control over services matter.
The ordinance seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre.
Transfer and postings of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the lieutenant governor before the May 11 verdict of the Supreme Court.
Explained | The administrative services row between the Delhi and Central governments
