National News

TMC MPs rush to Delhi to stop "bulldozing" of GNCTD Bill in Rajya Sabha

The GNCTD Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday, as per the bill it becomes mandatory for the Delhi Government to take the opinion of the Lieutenant Governor before anu executive action.

Sentinel Digital Desk

NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress TMC MPs led by MP Derek O'Brien on Wednesday have reached Delhi to obstruct the "bulldozing" of Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 GNCDT that attempts to provide more power to the Delhi Lieutenant Governor, in the Rajya Sabha.

"Two days to go for elections in five States. Yet Trinamool's Rajya Sabha MPs air dash to Delhi to stop bulldozing of #GNCT Bill that disempowers an elected Delhi government. Another knife into the heart of democracy, the Constitution and Parliament. Worse still, Home Minister electioneering, not piloting Bill. Cruel irony," he tweeted.

Owing to the West Bengal assembly polls, TMC members could attained the proceedings of the Upper House, keeping this in mind, TMC MP O'Brien had on Tuesday written to Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, requesting him to postpone the consideration and passing of the bill in the absence of TMC members in the Upper House.

The GNCTD Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday, as per the bill it becomes mandatory for the Delhi Government to take the opinion of the Lieutenant Governor before anu executive action.

Earlier, on Monday Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal termed the passage of the Bill in Lok Sabha an "insult" to the people of the national capital, that seeks to make it clear that the "government" in Delhi means the "Lieutenant Governor"

The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021, was passed by Lok Sabha on Monday amidst strong opposition from the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party AAP which said that the legislation is "unconstitutional".

On Tuesday the AAP urged all opposition parties requesting them to oppose the bill in Rajya Sabha.

Meanwhile, the opposition parties support the AAP's stand against the bill and will be raising their voice against it. Some of the prominent parties who opposed the Bill include Congress, TMC, Shiv Sena, NCP and BSP.