Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday, while presenting the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 in the Lok Sabha, tore into the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government, stating that the latter did not provide the required funds to the city’s three municipal corporations (South Delhi Municipal Corporation, North Delhi Municipal Corporation, and East Delhi Municipal Corporation).
This came a day after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, while speaking on the recently passed Delhi Budget, spoke about the “rise of the aam aadmi (common man)”, in a reference to the AAP’s recent electoral conquest of Punjab.
The Bill, which proposed to unify the three corporations, was passed in the House.
Apart from speaking on the technical provisions in the Bill — especially the insertion of the word “government” that shall be substituted with “Central government” in 11 sections of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957 — Mr. Shah alleged absenteeism on part of the Government of Delhi during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in terms of municipal duties such as the cremation of bodies, and disbursement of funds.
“It was said that the AAP was not allowed to work [during the pandemic], but I would like to state that the Chief Minister refused to come with me to Lok Nayak Hospital, where there were piles of dead bodies,” Mr. Shah said.
Lauding the Centre’s efforts during the pandemic, which included “saving the lives of lakhs of people”, Mr. Shah said that “every Chief Minister” had thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Responding to the notion that the Bill to unify the civic bodies was tabled because the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was “scared of elections”, Mr. Shah stated that it was “not [in] the party’s nature” and hit back at the Congress, citing former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s decision to declare Emergency across the country as an example of those who fear elections. He added, “Wherever elections take place, we will win without a doubt. There is no reason for us to be scared.”
Opposition leaders expressed concerns over the provisions in the Bill, stating that it changes the structure of federalism into that of a non-cooperative one, while questioning the timing of the Bill’s introduction, which was brought in right before the State Election Commission was to announce dates for civic elections in the capital.
Opposing the Bill in the Lok Sabha, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra hit out at the Centre and said the Bill had no place in Parliament and should be brought in the Delhi Assembly.
“You have just won four States. Go ahead, call the elections in Delhi, win the State and then call the municipal polls. Win the municipal polls and then bring this [Bill] in the state Assembly. Who is stopping you? Do it the right way. Do not do it by the backdoor,” Ms. Moitra said.
“The State Election Commission’s press conference was to announce the unification. You thought it was for the elections,” Mr. Shah said while responding to Opposition leaders in the House.
Emphasising as to why the Bill was introduced, Mr. Shah highlighted the Fifth Delhi Finance Commission had recommended over ₹40,000 crore to the three municipal corporations in terms of funds, but the Delhi Government “gave less than ₹7,000 crore”. He said that the deficit was of ₹11,000 crore and the corporations would have not faced this if the due funds had been disbursed, and added that the Delhi Government meted out “step-motherly treatment” and did not respond to multiple requests and efforts to improve the corporations.
“This Bill has been brought for the betterment of the municipal corporations, their services, and to make it aatmanirbar (self-dependent). When elections are held, whichever party wins will serve the people of Delhi with atma samman. I appeal to all, look above party-based politics and give this Bill your assistance,” Mr. Shah said.
