Congress may oppose bill to replace Centre’s ordinance on Delhi, final call after consultation with like-minded parties

The Congress on Monday asked the Center to respect the Supreme Court’s verdict on Delhi services and said the final call on supporting legislation to replace the ordinance in Parliament would be taken after discussions with like-minded political parties.

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said in a tweet, “The Congress party has not taken any decision on the issue of the ordinance brought against the Supreme Court judgment on the powers of the Delhi government with regard to the appointment of officers. It will consult its state units and other like-minded parties on this.”

“The party believes in the rule of law and at the same time does not condone unnecessary confrontations, political witch-hunts and campaigns based on lies against political opponents by any political party,” he added.

Sources had earlier said that the Congress may consider opposing a bill, when it is introduced in Parliament, seeking to replace the central government’s ordinance on Delhi’s service matters, but noted that other parties have Final decision will be taken after consultation.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is in power in Delhi, is seeking the support of various political parties on this matter and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will seek support from parties such as the Biju Janata Dal. BJD) and YSRCP, which have nine MPs each in the Rajya Sabha, to pass the law in the upper house of parliament if the opposition comes together on the issue.

While a united opposition has 111 MPs in the Rajya Sabha, the ruling BJP and its allies have almost the same number of MPs.

Senior Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said his party welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision.

He said, ‘Even today we are of the same opinion that the decision of the Supreme Court was correct. The Constitution Bench has given a detailed judgment on the Delhi issue and the government should respect it,” Sharma told reporters when asked about the ordinance.

Meanwhile, Congress sources said the party may oppose the bill when the government brings it in Parliament to replace the ordinance.

Sharma said the government has brought an ordinance and also sought a review of the May 11 verdict of the Supreme Court.

“It is very clear that the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court had given a very detailed judgment and, at the same time, had explained the constitutional positions and rights of the states and elected governments. It was a big question, it was not just limited to those parts of the judgement, it was not just limited to Delhi I think, it was about India being a country.

The Congress leader said that under the Constitution, the government has the right to bring an ordinance, but in this case it has also decided to file a petition for review of the apex court’s decision.

“Since it is a constitution bench judgement, it is only a constitution bench that will reconsider (the verdict). And we will wait and see what the constitution bench decides in this matter and we will leave it to that.

Asked whether the Congress would oppose the bill to replace the ordinance, Sharma said, “When it comes, we cross the river.” “I would expect that the Congress leadership, the Congress President, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, and the Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, along with leaders of all other political parties, will discuss the matter when the session is called, but we hope Let’s say that since this is a Constitution bench and the government has gone back there, the Supreme Court will come out with its view.”

AAP national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is seeking support from opposition parties, urging them to defeat the ordinance setting up the National Capital Civil Services Authority and giving it the power to transfer bureaucrats in the city.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI,