The Centre wants to put obstacles against what Arvind Kejriwal has been doing, Manish Sisodia said
New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to stop Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from developing the national capital, which is why he got the bill that gives Lieutenant Governor more power passed in parliament, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has alleged.
“Everyone is talking about the Modi model (of development). People are talking about how the Modi model is failing and that Arvind Kejriwal can be an alternate…Kejriwal doesn’t do tokenism. That’s why they have lost sleep over it,” Mr Sisodia said at a press conference.
“PM Modi is doing things to stop the development of Delhi, of India. He is the Prime Minister of India, he can do good work anywhere; but he won’t,” he added.
The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill makes it clear that the term “government” in Delhi means the Lieutenant Governor and his opinion has to be taken before the Delhi government takes any executive action.
The controversial bill against which the Arvind Kejriwal-led party has been protesting, was passed in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The opposition protested the legislation, with MPs from parties like the BJD, Samajwadi Party, Congress and the YSR Congress staging a walkout.
“They want to put obstacles against what Kejriwal has been doing. But Kejriwal is a fighter…he will not stop because of the obstacles,” Mr Sisodia said.
“The PM’s post is like a father to the nation. Any politician or party’s work should be facilitated by the PM. But instead, he is doing negative politics…they want to stop schools, hospitals, clinics…they are just scared of Kejriwal’s popularity,” he added.
The opposition had termed the bill “unconstitutional” and demanded that it be sent to a Select Committee for scrutiny. The bill was first passed in Rajya Sabha by voice vote. However, after the opposition’s demand for a division, it was again passed in the upper house, with 83 members voting in its favour, while 45 voted against it.
After the passage of the bill, Mr Kejriwal, who has had run-ins with the office of the Lieutenant Governor ever since he first became chief minister over power sharing, had said that it was a “sad day for Indian democracy”.
“RS passes GNCTD amendment bill. Sad day for Indian democracy. Will continue our struggle to restore power back to people. Whatever be the obstacles, we will continue doing good work. Work will neither stop nor slow down,” he tweeted.