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NEW DELHI: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) will support the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in its fight against the Centre’s ordinance on control of services in Delhi, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced in Kolkata on Tuesday shortly after meeting her Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal.
As part of a nationwide tour to garner support for his fight against the Centre’s ordinance CM Kejriwal along with his party’s CM for Punjab Bhagwant Mann met Banerjee in Kolkata. They were accompanied by AAP leaders Raghav Chadha and Atishi Singh.
During the meeting, the leaders discussed the central ordinance setting up a National Capital Civil Service Authority which essentially overturns a Supreme Court order last week giving control of services, excluding those related to police, public order and land, to the elected government in Delhi.
After the meeting, Banerjee, Kejriwal and Mann held a short joint press briefing in which the Bengal CM assured that she will urge other opposition parties to join the fight and not vote in favour of the ordinance.
“The Central government will rule all the states, through Governors, ordinances and letters … I request all opposition parties that if you are willing to work together, don’t let a single vote go to the BJP, I want everyone to vote for non-BJP parties against such an ordinance,” said Banerjee.
Centre might change Constitution: Banerjee
She also attacked the BJP-led Centre of making a “mockery of democracy” and accused it of “using the CBI and ED to try and break opposition governments” in the states and using the “Governors to disturb the administration”.
“This government has become a government ‘of the agency, by the agency and for the agency’. We fear the Central government might change the Constitution, they might change the name of the country … They don’t even respect the Supreme Court verdicts,” she added.
Banerjee further alleged that such drastic steps were a sign of desperation and that the “double engine (BJP rule) has become a troubled engine”.
Semi-final for 2024: Kejriwal
Thanking Banerjee for her support, Kejriwal said: “I thank Didi (Mamata Banerjee) for assuring that she will support us in the Rajya Sabha (against the Centre’s ordinance to create an authority for transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi). I believe if this Bill is stopped in Rajya Sabha, then this will be a semi-final for 2024 (Lok Sabha elections).”
Sources in the CM’s secretariat said the two sides had discussed the 2024 national elections and the possibility of forging opposition unity.
Before starting on the journey for Kolkata, Kejriwal had tweeted, “Today, I am starting my journey around the country for the rights of the people of Delhi. The Supreme Court had passed a judgement giving justice to the people of Delhi. The Centre snatched away those rights by bringing the ordinance.”
As part of a nationwide tour to garner support for his fight against the Centre’s ordinance CM Kejriwal along with his party’s CM for Punjab Bhagwant Mann met Banerjee in Kolkata. They were accompanied by AAP leaders Raghav Chadha and Atishi Singh.
During the meeting, the leaders discussed the central ordinance setting up a National Capital Civil Service Authority which essentially overturns a Supreme Court order last week giving control of services, excluding those related to police, public order and land, to the elected government in Delhi.
After the meeting, Banerjee, Kejriwal and Mann held a short joint press briefing in which the Bengal CM assured that she will urge other opposition parties to join the fight and not vote in favour of the ordinance.
“The Central government will rule all the states, through Governors, ordinances and letters … I request all opposition parties that if you are willing to work together, don’t let a single vote go to the BJP, I want everyone to vote for non-BJP parties against such an ordinance,” said Banerjee.
Centre might change Constitution: Banerjee
She also attacked the BJP-led Centre of making a “mockery of democracy” and accused it of “using the CBI and ED to try and break opposition governments” in the states and using the “Governors to disturb the administration”.
“This government has become a government ‘of the agency, by the agency and for the agency’. We fear the Central government might change the Constitution, they might change the name of the country … They don’t even respect the Supreme Court verdicts,” she added.
Banerjee further alleged that such drastic steps were a sign of desperation and that the “double engine (BJP rule) has become a troubled engine”.
Semi-final for 2024: Kejriwal
Thanking Banerjee for her support, Kejriwal said: “I thank Didi (Mamata Banerjee) for assuring that she will support us in the Rajya Sabha (against the Centre’s ordinance to create an authority for transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi). I believe if this Bill is stopped in Rajya Sabha, then this will be a semi-final for 2024 (Lok Sabha elections).”
Sources in the CM’s secretariat said the two sides had discussed the 2024 national elections and the possibility of forging opposition unity.
Before starting on the journey for Kolkata, Kejriwal had tweeted, “Today, I am starting my journey around the country for the rights of the people of Delhi. The Supreme Court had passed a judgement giving justice to the people of Delhi. The Centre snatched away those rights by bringing the ordinance.”
“When this comes in the Rajya Sabha, it has to be ensured that it is not passed. I will meet the leaders of all political parties and ask for support,” he added.
The National Capital Civil Service Authority will handle the transfer of IAS and DANICS cadre officers and also matters of disciplinary proceedings against them.
The AAP has already sought support of all non-BJP parties saying this is a “time for agni pariksha” for opposition parties, and that they should come together if they want to save the country’s democracy and Constitution.
(With inputs from agencies)
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