Congress backs AAP’s fight against Delhi ordinance ahead of big Opposition meet

NEW DELHI,JULY 16 : Putting an end to speculation, Congress has finally decided to support the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in its fight against the ordinance brought by the Centre on the control of services ahead of the key opposition meeting in Bengaluru. This comes as a big support for Arvind Kejriwal’s party, which had threatened to boycott the key Opposition meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow aimed at forging an alliance to take on the ruling BJP ahead of the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The Congress 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.

However, former Union Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram took a dig at AAP and said, “The manner in which AAP took up the Delhi ordinance issue at Patna meet was unfortunate.”

“I think they (AAP) are going to join the meeting tomorrow. As for the ordinance (on control of services in Delhi), our stand is very clear. We are not going to support it,” said Congress general secretary KC

“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.

AAP leader Raghav Chadha welcomed the Congress’ “unequivocal opposition” to the ordinance and said “this is a positive development”.

The Delhi government, which termed the ordinance “unconstitutional”, has called a meeting of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) today at 4 pm. As Congress has now openly and officially made an announcement opposing the centre’s ordinance, PAC may decide to be part of the meeting in Bengaluru.

AAP’s FIGHT AGAINST ORDINANCE

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal went on a nationwide tour to garner support for the fight against the Centre’s ordinance. All the major opposition parties–Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal United, Bharath Rashtriya Samiti (BRS), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and others had extended their support to AAP in its fight against the ordinance.

Following the first opposition meeting in Patna on June 23, the AAP had sharply criticised the Congress.

“The Congress’ hesitation and refusal to act as a team player will make it very difficult for the AAP to be a part of any alliance that includes the Congress,” a statement from the party read.

It sent out a letter warning that it would be challenging for the AAP to take part in “future meetings of like-minded parties where the Congress is a participant” unless the Congress and 31 Rajya Sabha members denounce the ordinance.

On Saturday, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, without mentioning AAP, said, “The Congress Party has always opposed any attack on the federal structure of the elected governments in the states and it will continue to do so. Both inside, as well as outside the Parliament.”

The senior leadership of the Congress yesterday held a meeting of its parliamentary strategy group to discuss various matters to be raised during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament.

The opposition grouping to take on the BJP in the next Lok Sabha polls is set to expand with more parties joining in at the second unity meeting being convened by the Congress in Bengaluru.

Leaders of 24 non-BJP parties have been invited for the meet on June 17 and 18, the first edition of which saw the participation of 15 parties.

 Congress likely to support AAP on Delhi ordinance in Parliament: Sources

The Centre on May 19 promulgated the ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of IAS and DANICS officers in Delhi, with the AAP government calling the move a circumvention of the Supreme Court verdict on control of services.

The ordinance, which came a week after the Supreme Court handed over control of services in Delhi, excluding police, public order and land, to the elected government, seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers.

The 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.

-PTI